Abstract

The concept of Whole Health draws from the definition of health as stated in the World Health Organization (WHO) constitution that “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.”¹ Reservations on the feasibility of operationalizing this definition have partially influenced the subsequent discourse on this concept. Some argued that the concept is vast, vague, and unquantifiable, thereby resulting in a biomedical implementation model focusing on treating diseases to improve an individual’s health.² Noting the limitations of the biomedical model, Engel³ argued for a biopsychosocial model that considers the patient, the social context in which he lives, and the society mechanisms in place to deal with diseases. Similarly, Jonas and Rosenbaum⁴ advocated for whole person care, highlighting benefits such as better patient experience, clinical outcomes, and lower costs.