Peak oil vs. Medicine

Introduction

The ability to increase the global supply of crude oil is very doubtful. It is expected that the production of oil will peak and then decline. Oil is generally associated with the emergence of many related health problems. The reduction in oil will result to using “renewable energy”, which is seen as healthy and friendly to human health. Due to the Peak Oil anticipation, there is the need to prepare strategies and actions to review petroleum uses especially on how peak oil may affect public health. It is postulated that long-term protection of public health is increasingly connected to reduced dependency on carbon, thus Peak Oil is a health blessing in disguise. This means that Peak Oil is important for Medicine needs and development.

Peak oil vs. Medicine Thesis Statements

The different projections about peak oil are of great concern as shown by some peak oil events in the recent past. Many opportunities exist for devising beneficial solutions within healthcare to lessen the effects of peak oil. Therefore, it is important that disaster medical professionals become aware of peak oil and advocate for change in clinical practices with policy leaders and patients, as well (Doyle).

There is an urgent requirement to highlight the possible positive transformational change that is intrinsic in such a crisis. Understanding health risks associated with peak oil is vital, in spite of the fact that change comes from inspiration, value, and empathy. The uncertainties related to peak oil are real and it is about when it will happen and its impacts felt. Therefore, policies that ought to be pursued now ought to have the effect of increasing resilience to the effects of peak oil if we are to achieve population health benefits (McCartney &Hanlon).

Oil is a unique product used as an essential energy source. However, oil products are expected to reach a phase known as “peak oil” in the near future. This article will discuss how peak oil will affect public health and health care in four main areas: transportation, food production, medical supplies and energy generation while giving suggestions on general health care preparedness and actions to the above health system impacts (Frumkin et al.).

In the near future, it is predicated that there will be a significant shortfall in energy (peak oil) resulting to high energy prices, thus reversing many globalization aspects. Health population the world over is determined by economic and social determinants. If the oil peak happens, a resulting economic recession will have a negative impact on health. There is the potential to reduce adverse effects through sustainable development and economic planning, and use the opportunity to impact on a range of diseases that are usually caused by loss of community, inequality and overconsumption (Hanlon &McCartney).

Peak oil may or may not be the threat that many people believe it to be. It is clearer that there are many ways to which current lifestyles that are mainly based on the heavy reliance on fossil fuel is detrimental to health. Tackling the overdependence on oil is most likely to be beneficial to health (Wilkinson).

It is estimated that at some point in this century, petroleum products will peak and then decline. This means that we will have increased oil prices as well as for goods and services that require oil for transportation or production. This transition resulting from peak oil will have far-reaching benefits across the society. According to the health sector, its direct and indirect effects it is obvious that there hold the transportation of medical supplies and equipment, energy, and food will be felt. However, for health professional, they need to prepare for by reducing and adapting petroleum scarcity to protect public health in the coming years (Frumkin, Hess &Vindigni).