?5. How far should individuals be responsible for their own health? Introduction Today, six out of the ten leading factors contributing to the global burden of disease are lifestyle related: unsafe sex, high blood pressure, tobacco use, alcohol use, high cholesterol and obesity. As such, since individuals are the ones taking charge of their own lifestyles, one would think that it is but the individual that should be responsible for their own health. Indeed, this invocation of personal responsibility is not a product of recent advent. However, there are also debates over the obligations and importance of the government and society in building up the path for individuals to be healthy. In my opinion, individuals should not be held fully responsible as there remain many scenarios when individuals alone do not have the capability and thus should not be the sole caretaker of one’s own health. Body TS1: It can be argued that individuals should be fully responsible for their own health due to the fact that people have a free will on what kind of lifestyle they undertake. ?Increasingly, employers/governments all over the world are providing workers with healthcare benefits and some even gym membership reimbursements. E.g. Medicaid Plans (USA) and free clinical consultations for employees (SG). However, having such privileges does not necessarily mean that using them effectively. ?It is true that individuals may need motivations from others (from family/friends/mass media/doctors) to maintain a salubrious lifestyle, but the will to become healthier lies in the hands of the individuals themselves. E.g. The Biggest Loser (TV Program) encourages participants to slim down but not all have the determination to do so. E.g. 2. Anti-smoking campaign in SG: revolting pictures relating to harms of smoking do not deter everyone from smoking. Individuals may choose to ignore it. TS2: On the other hand, governments are the stewards of health resources