Supply and demand of "instant health" by means of medicines: a proposal for research

Abstract

The symbolic utilization of medicines as implying an abridgement of a long and multidimensional process which is necessary for achieving health status, socially and individually speaking, is discussed from a theoretical point of view. "Instant health" is proposed as the desired result or as the meaning of this symbolic process. The politico-ideological dimensions of the problem as strictly relation to the idea of medicines as merchandise is discussed. The paper also considers the false opposition: prescribed versus nonprescribed medicines and offers a new one - symbolic versus nonsymbolic use of medicines. Finally, a new field of research is proposed in public health - the supply and demand of symbolic goods which would satisfy the desire for "instant health".