Keywords: slow, medicine, health, degrowth

Abstract: Health care seems to be more and more costly, while data on the health of populations do not seem to improve. We all know that just a small part of the individuals' and populations' health depends on health care systems and on medicine. Economic and social factors affect the health of human beings, and among these an ordinate development compatible with the planet resources. Health care models in modern communities are depending on the advancements of research in biology, physiology, pathology, pharmaceutics and other sciences applied to the strong will to improve humanity health. Human beings are plunged in their environment, and are affecting it in different ways: health and health care as well as depend on the relationships between man and environment. A quality health care seems to improve both the results of health care and its costs. This can happen both in developed and developing countries. In this workshop we will discuss a model of medicine based on centrality and participation of patients and communities in health care design, on real health and health care needs, on professionals able to reach the best evidence via web and apply it according to local and well planned resources, on organisational principles of cooperation, coordination and participation in setting health care goals, processes and indicators for outcome measurement. This model cannot be implemented without a strong commitment of professionals in counselling and patient/communities listening. Sobriety, Respect and Justice are the principles of medicine that should be stressed in order to make it quality and sustainable, as well as Good, Clean and Right are the principles of Slow Food. So these are the principles of SLOW MEDICINE. An interactive workshop on these items and principles will be held during the conference by some of Slow Medicine Italian founders.

Contribution to the 3rd International Degrowth Conference for Ecological Sustainability and Social Equity in Venice in 2012.