“Health needs to be in the driver’s seat rather than Economics,” said Prof. Subramnaya Yadapadathiya, Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University in the book launch function of “Economics First or Health First?” authored by renowned thinker and writer Dr. Javed Jamil. The book launch ceremony was organised by Yenepoya (Deemed to be) University, Mangalore.
Prof. Yadapadathiya described the book as a revolutionary work, which has the potential to change the world for the better. While analysing the contents and theme of the book in detail, he said that “Dr. Jamil is right when he says that the current world controlled by Economics and the forces of Economics first commercialise the problems and then commercialise the solutions.” He said what is great about the book is that it presents huge data and scientific facts to show how the vices like drugs, smoking, alcohol, gambling and sex outside the boundaries of family are causing huge morbidity and mortality. “Health above Everything Else” is a revolutionary slogan coined by Dr. Jamil,” he said.
In his address, the author Dr. Javed Jamil explained how the forces of “Economic Fundamentalism” have captured almost every part of the system, from social system to political and from legal system to health. “Health policies are made not in accordance with the impact of substances and practices on life and health but in accordance with their effect on the market,” he argued. He gave details about how practices like alcohol, gambling and unhealthy sexual practices are killing more than 50 million people across the world every year. He explained that “Dynamic Paradigm of Health” presented in the book fixes the responsibility of protecting health not only on individuals themselves but also on the system. “The system must be duty bound to protect the lives and not allow the people access to dangerous substances and practices,” he said.
In his Presidential speech, Chancellor of Yenepoya University, Mr. Abdulla Kunhi congratulated Dr. Jamil for his “wonderful” work and hoped that more and more books by him will be released in future in the University.
Dr. M. Vijayakumar, Vice Chancellor of Yenepoya University, welcomed the guests and Dr. Gangadhar Somayaji, Registrar of the University, proposed the vote of thanks. On this occasion, the High Commissioner of Rwanda, Mr Earnest Rwamcyo was also present.