Democracy cuts health risks, increases longevity: Lancet Study | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Democracy cuts health risks, increases longevity: Lancet Study

Hindustan Times, | By
Mar 15, 2019 07:49 AM IST

The study also addressed an important but-then argument by contrasting the health benefits of democracy with those of wealth (because, on average, democracies tend to have higher national incomes than dictatorships).

Democracy isn’t just good for the soul, but is good for the body too, according to a study spanning 170 countries that found a strong correlation between health and the most progressive form of government.

An election official puts indeliable ink on the finger of a voter before she casts her ballot.(AFP File Photo)
An election official puts indeliable ink on the finger of a voter before she casts her ballot.(AFP File Photo)

People living in democracies live longer than those who don’t, said the study, published in The Lancet on Thursday.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The also have a lesser chance of dying from heart disease, strokes, even road accidents. “The study suggests that elections and the health of the people are increasingly inseparable. Without pressure or validation from voters or foreign-aid agencies, dictators have less incentive to finance the more expensive prevention and treatment of heart diseases, cancers, and other chronic illnesses,” said study lead Thomas Bollyky, director of the global health programme at the Council on Foreign Relations, Washington DC.

The study also addressed an important but-then argument by contrasting the health benefits of democracy with those of wealth (because, on average, democracies tend to have higher national incomes than dictatorships).

An analysis of political, economic, and population health information collected over 46 years found that democracy played a bigger role in improving public health than a country’s economic output.

After controlling for HIV/AIDS, life expectancy improved faster in countries that transitioned to democracy between 1970 and 2015 compared to those that didn’t, with life expectancy on average increasing by 3% after 10 years, according to the study.

“Free and fair elections appear important for improving adult health… most likely by increasing government accountability and responsiveness,” said the study published by the medical journal.

As levels of democracy increased, governments spent more on health, irrespective of a country’s gross domestic product (GDP), it found.

“Democracy, if it functions well, enables better prioritisation of health actions, influences other sectors to enable and not erode public health, supports energetic public engagement and ensures government accountability. This will undoubtedly yield many health benefits,” said Dr K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India.

The causes of death most affected by democratic experience — cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and stroke, tuberculosis, road deaths, cancers and other non-communicable diseases — account for half of adult deaths in India.

An estimated 2.5 billion people, roughly a third of the world’s population, live in countries where freedom of expression, the right to vote, and freedom of association are threatened.

Democracies like India that are not dependent on foreign aid should promote and practice a vibrant and vigilant democracy as its own strength, said public health experts from India.

“We do not need foreign funding for that. Even low-income countries should build their democratic traditions free from motivated foreign coercion,” said Dr Reddy.

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Farmers Protest Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Sanchita is the health & science editor of the Hindustan Times. She has been reporting and writing on public health policy, health and nutrition for close to two decades. She is an International Reporting Project fellow from Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and was part of the expert group that drafted the Press Council of India’s media guidelines on health reporting, including reporting on people living with HIV.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Friday, March 15, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On