Government spending and resource allocation:

Prioritization of public health: Funding for infrastructure, sanitation, preventative care.
Broader social spending: Funding for education, housing, social welfare addresses root causes of health inequities.

Policy and regulation:

Health policy: Prioritizes preventive care, universal health coverage (e.g., Ayushman Bharat scheme).
Non-health policies: Urban planning, environmental regulation, green spaces promote health.

Political stability and democracy:

Positive impacts of law and regulation:
- Setting standards and promoting healthy behaviors: Laws for seatbelt use, smoking bans, nutrition labeling, vaccinations.
- Protecting patients and ensuring quality care: Medical malpractice laws, licensing, privacy regulations (HIPAA).
- Advancing social justice and health equity: Reforms addressing poverty, discrimination.
Negative or restrictive impacts of law:
- Discriminatory laws: Stigmatize marginalized groups (e.g., punitive drug laws, housing policies).
- Barriers to service delivery: Restrictive laws on scope of practice, telehealth adoption.
- Unintended consequences: Laws can have negative effects (e.g., criminal justice laws affecting minorities).

Positive impacts:
- Improved diagnostics and treatment: Advanced imaging (MRI), AI-assisted diagnostics, robotics, 3D printing (prosthetics, tissues).
- Enhanced patient access and management: Telemedicine, remote monitoring, health apps, wearable devices.
- Greater operational efficiency: EHRs streamline tasks, improve communication, provide holistic patient view.
- Big data analytics: Identify risk factors, predict patient loads, develop personalized treatments.
Challenges and negative impacts:
- Physical and mental health risks for users: Screen time issues ("tech neck"), disrupted sleep.
- Data security and privacy concerns: Cyberattacks, breaches, misuse of sensitive data.
- Exacerbating health inequities: High costs, limited digital infrastructure, digital literacy widen gaps.
- Ethical implications and accountability: Algorithmic bias, patient consent, error accountability.

Definition: Fundamental determinants of health, affecting human well-being and healthcare systems.
Air and water quality:
- Air pollution: Leads to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, lung cancer.
- Water contamination: Causes infectious diseases (cholera, typhoid, dysentery).
Climate change and extreme weather events:
- Health emergencies: Heatwaves, floods, wildfires, storms lead to injuries, illness, deaths.
- Disrupted food and water systems: Food insecurity, water quality issues, undernutrition, water-borne diseases.