Thanks for writing this, so true. I wrote an article once using a "health pyramid" (perhaps 25% Blue Zone lifestyle, 20% Clean Environment, 20% Medicines and Researchers, 15% Nurses and Healthcare workers, 10% Doctors, 5% Accountants and Lawyers). Of course, you could rate this on several basis: cost, efficacy, what is vs what should be. I suppose "clean living" and "environment" (including clean water and air, safe food, lack of harmful chemicals etc) may be underrated, doctors somewhat overrated (they are important "last lines of defense", yet needed less when the others are mastered?). Medicines and Researchers may be undervalued, and someday the dominant health factor (overcoming obesity, cancer, heart disease, senescence?). Naturally, accountants and lawyers are a big part of todays health system, yet one wishes they weren't.
As a Civil Engineer that dealt partly in water, wastewater, vector control, landfills. I always noticed that no one thought of this as part of "healthcare" (its taken for granted). Yet without it, disease proliferates (see 1351 Bubonic Plague, various TB and Cholera epidemics for reference). Kudos also to the environmental health workers who helped contain the 1918 Flu, and today help keep food safe, administer vaccines.
Anti-vax? Do these people know about the vast numbers of infectious disease deaths prior to the invention of antibiotics and vaccines? Do they know the strong linkage between viruses and heart disease/cancer? Yes, to your point, people have short memories, fail to understand the advances and benefits of healthcare, the devastation of "a lack of public health". Doctors/Nurses are great, but If the basics aren't addressed and a massive epidemic hits, they can be overwhelmed & ineffective (we came close during Covid...other bad boys are out there).
https://scottvern.medium.com/if-this-malady-dont-getcha-the-other-disease-will-5a01d3dc31d4
