With every passing day, human life is brimming with luxuries, modern-day utilities, and comfortable innovations. Technological advances have revamped the entire way of life in the contemporary world. Almost every field of life has become radically different from the past. The equipment, tools, and services we utilize today are making us highly reliant on them, becoming a necessity rather than a mere luxury. However, there is a downside to all of this, as everything comes at a price. These modern-day innovations have also taken a massive toll on the social fabric of the world. 

We all are witnesses to the unavoidable and alarming impact of the fundamental necessities of life. Education, healthcare, justice, civic services, and employment opportunities are all undergoing considerable change, which isn’t always positive. The disparity between the standard of these services in the world is strikingly huge. Somewhere you find top-of-the-line services with minimal financial expenses. In other regions, people struggle to ensure a vigorous life, given the lack and inaccessibility of primary healthcare facilities. Unfortunately, innovative, fast-paced, and tech-reliant economies have created these differences. 

The healthcare sector has undoubtedly received the gravest impacts of all. Not everybody is given equal treatment. Despite being an essential social requirement, healthcare has become increasingly commercialized. It seems like only the rich have the fundamental right to proper healthcare. Consequently, marginalization is at its peak in the modern-day healthcare systems. This article sheds more light on it.

1. Social Marginalization

The social fabric of this newly evolved world is quite intricate and complex. Determining the healthcare services, resources, and their adequate application and distribution requires a proper understanding of the social dynamics. Social workers must collaborate and work shoulder to shoulder with healthcare leaders to eradicate society’s social marginalization. Pursuing masters of social work online degree programs will help them dive deep into the social issues of our community. This online program will enable them to determine factors causing social marginalization in healthcare and resolve it.  

Treating the masses differently based on their social indicators such as background and ethnicity paves the way for social marginalization. So, the most promising way to tackle this situation is by actively involving the government authorities in ensuring these basic civic needs. They must develop the right policies and provide equal healthcare services to every citizen of the society. The State should ensure that healthcare doesn’t get too commercialized either. Only then will the resultant social marginalization decline. Essential healthcare available and accessible at all times is the right of every citizen. Depriving them of this fundamental right creates social marginalization.

1. Economic Marginalization

Healthcare problems haunt every individual in today’s world. No matter rich or poor, everyone runs away from indulging in healthcare expenses. Healthcare facilities have become exponentially more expensive over the last two or so decades. Something that should stay nonprofit for human welfare has become inclined mainly towards making profits. Today, healthcare itself has become a lucrative commercial business rather than a social welfare construct. As a result, it is one of the great reasons for economic marginalization. 

According to WHO, a staggering 930 million people are in the vulnerable group because of healthcare expenses. This group of people is most susceptible to fall below the poverty line because of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. They spend an average of 10% of their household budget on healthcare, leading to declining purchasing power. Therefore, they are the ones who get economically marginalized because of mounting healthcare costs. We can only address this issue with proper financial planning ensuring affordable services and aids for the masses. Authorities need to channel public taxes in the right direction for healthcare improvements.

1. Physiological Marginalization

The health of specific communities is indeed declining at an alarming rate. Restricting healthcare to certain privileged groups is having severe physiological impacts on society at large. Racial bias and cultural segregation play a role too. According to a report by Nature, US hospitals are using an algorithm that takes biased decisions to provide healthcare to patients. It is, directly and indirectly, affecting about 200 million people. 

These problems are promoting physiological marginalization in communities. Unsurprisingly, specific communities are losing the ability to maintain and care for their mental and physical health. It is diverting them toward illicit social activities as well. Therefore, the trickledown effect has a higher cost. These communities are unable to add value to the society that they can. So, a viable way to tackle this issue is to spread awareness and decrease social stigmatization. The people in power need to initiate outreach programs, so society eliminates such biases at large. Healthcare is like a correlated phenomenon. These deprived communities will eventually downgrade the health of others too. Therefore, healthcare facilities must deal with them all equally.

1. Psychological Marginalization

Healthcare has a crucial impact on every other domain of life. Mental health, emotional stability, and social understanding depend on proper health. So, if our well-being is disturbed, other aspects of life bear the brunt. Social and family life deteriorate, and marginalized groups face immense stress and mental pressure. Therefore, their overall performance and productivity decline. They become a less warranted member of society, causing substantial psychological impacts on these people. Consequently, they start facing this psychological marginalization in almost every sphere of life since their capabilities are challenged.

A plausible strategy to tackle this issue lies in ensuring equal healthcare for all the members of society. However, people need to recognize the gravity of these differences and address them accordingly. This issue needs to be challenged on the grass root. Only then will the impact move bottom-up. Slowly the entire society will eradicate this social evil. So, the most critical aspect is ensuring sustainability. Psychologically challenged people are not easy to handle, and health issues further exacerbate this problem. 

Final Thoughts

Social, economic, physiological, and psychological issues will always remain in the world. The complexities and subtleties of society will always produce these issues. However, when arising from healthcare, these issues are alarmingly devastating for the integrity of our social fabric. Government and other authorities in power must address this issue at the earliest. The responsibility lies in our capacity too. We need to start with changing our mindset and embrace inclusivity. Healthcare is an essential element of human life, and everyone deserves this right.