On Medicine As Colonialism Paperback – Import, 16 February 2023

In his provocative book "On Medicine as Colonialism," Dr. Michael Fine presents a scathing critique of the U.S. healthcare system, arguing that it functions more as a wealth extraction mechanism than a guardian of public health. Fine draws striking parallels between colonial practices and the modern healthcare industry, revealing how both exploit communities for financial gain.Fine defines colonialism as the use of power to extract wealth from communities, a practice he argues the healthcare industry has perfected. He estimates that $1 to $2 trillion is wasted annually on unnecessary healthcare spending, depriving communities of resources for education, housing, and infrastructure.The author traces the historical shift of hospitals and health insurance companies from community-focused entities to profit-driven enterprises. This transformation, Fine contends, has had devastating consequences for public health, with the insurance process itself becoming a tool for wealth extraction.The COVID-19 pandemic, according to Fine, has further exposed these systemic issues, demonstrating how the healthcare system often prioritizes profit over public well-being. He criticizes state power for enabling this process, likening it to colonial powers that stripped resources from communities.Fine concludes with a call to action, advocating for a social movement to reclaim healthcare for the public good. He envisions communities taking control of their health systems, building from the ground up to create truly beneficial structures."On Medicine as Colonialism" is a powerful indictment of the current healthcare system and a rallying cry for transformative change. Fine's work challenges readers to reimagine healthcare as a community-focused endeavor that prioritizes health and well-being over profit, offering a path forward in the face of daunting systemic challenges.