Self-care is now viewed as a crucial pillar for improving public health outcomes while reducing the burden on formal medical facilities. The latest report from Economist Enterprise, titled Making Self-Care Work: Integrating Self-Care into Health Systems, emphasizes that integrating this method into national health systems can bring massive positive impacts.
Supported by global health company Bayer, the research estimates that optimizing self-care can save the global economy up to 179 billion USD annually. In addition to budget efficiency, this step is also a key accelerator for countries worldwide to achieve the target of Universal Health Coverage (Universal Health Coverage).
The urgency to strengthen self-care arises amidst various global challenges, such as the aging population explosion, rising cases of chronic diseases, healthcare workforce crises, and inequalities in healthcare access. In this situation, self-care emerges as a solution to extend the reach of services sustainably.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines self-care as the collective and individual ability to maintain health, prevent disease, and manage medical conditions, either independently or with clinical guidance. Practical applications of this concept include adopting a healthy lifestyle, digital body monitoring, and the wise use of over-the-counter medication.
Dr. Manjulaa Narasimhan, a scientist from the WHO, emphasizes that self-care is the frontline of public health defense. However, this research underlines that self-care is not intended to replace the role of doctors or hospitals, but rather as a complementary element that supports each other through integrated medical referral pathways and credible information.
Echoing this sentiment, President of Consumer Health at Bayer, Julio Triana, stated that self-care-based solutions—including health education and digital tools—can bridge the access gap. The success of this program heavily relies on the provision of evidence-based medical information and strict regulatory standards for patient safety.
