Healthcare is very important for everyone in the world but it can be very expensive. Many people believe that governments should try to prevent illness by making sure everyone in their country has a healthy lifestyle. I agree that preventing illness is better than curing it.

The cost of medical treatment can be high so governments have to think of ways to encourage people to be healthier. If people are healthy, they will not need medical care so often. Many diseases can be prevented if people have good diets, take exercise and give up unhealthy habits such as smoking. If people cannot work or care for themselves or their family due to illness, this will cost governments and taxpayers a lot of money. In my opinion, governments should spend money on producing information leaflets and films which encourage people to follow healthy lifestyles, such as eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, taking regular exercise and giving up smoking. Governments should also try to reduce environmental pollution because this can cause illness and health problems.

However, having a healthy lifestyle cannot prevent all health problems. There are many diseases, such as cancer, which are a result of living in the modern world and which cannot be prevented by a healthy lifestyle. Accidents at work or on the roads will also cause injuries which need medical treatment. If governments focus mainly on prevention, there may be less money for urgent healthcare and many people could suffer.

In conclusion, I believe that governments should provide a balance of prevention and treatment because of the different types of health problem, but their main focus should be on prevention rather than cure.