Biomedical model

What it focuses on

focuses on the physical or biological aspects of disease and illness (does nothing towards preventing illness)

What does it involve

diagnosing the disease or illness, then treating the illness or condition once symptoms are present

who it is practiced by/ what it is

It is a medical model of care practiced by doctors and health professionals, assosiated with diagnosing, treating, and curing the disease

examples

surgery, medication, x-ray

Features (5)

Quick fix approach

focuses on individuals who are ill

relies on technology to diagnosed, treat, and cure

relies on services provided by doctors, specialists, and hospitals

concerned with disease illness and disability

contrast of the public health model and biomedical model

individuals are the focus whereas the population is the focus for public health actions

Strengths 

Funding brings improvements in technology and research

enables many illnesses and conditions to be effectively treated

extends life expectancy

improves quality of life and health-adjusted life expectancy

Limitations 

relies on professional health workers and technology and is therefore costly

doesn’t always promote good health and wellbeing

not every condition can be treated

not always affordable

Funding brings improvements in technology and research (strength)

without Biomedical approach there would be no x-rays, antibiotics, or anesthetics and relatively little knowledge about how to diagnose and treat illness

enables many illnesses and conditions to be effectively treated (strength)

medicines stop and treat diseases that could develop to be fatal

extends life expectancy (strength)

common diseases that in the past caused death, like infectious diseases, can now be treated and cured

improves quality of life and health-adjusted life expectancy (strength)

many chronic conditions can be managed with medication, therapy, or surgery, reducing pain

relies on professional health workers and technology and is therefore costly (Limitation)

knowledge and technology has developed, cost of training and equipment has increased. Some diagnostic and treatment machines, like MRIs and robotic surgery systems, are very costly and only treat a few patients each day.

doesn’t always promote good health and wellbeing (Limitation)

encourages reliance on a quick-fix solutions to health issues. Focuses on the condition rather than factors that caused it, not encouraging people to be responsible for their health and wellbeing

not every condition can be treated (Limitation)

people may experience conditions not treatable or with no cure, (may be preventable through behaviour change but not the focus of Biomedical model)

not always affordable (Limitation)

not everyone can afford the medical technologies and resources that are part of the biomedical model approach to health