IELTS Writing Task 2 Practice Question: Health Topic

With healthcare budgets under pressure in almost every country, governments must decide how to divide limited funds. Some argue that more should be invested in prevention, such as encouraging healthy lifestyles, while others believe the priority should be developing new treatments and cures. I believe prevention deserves a larger share, although medical research must not be neglected.

The case for preventive healthcare is largely economic and social. Many of the most common and costly illnesses, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, are closely linked to diet, smoking and lack of exercise. Campaigns that reduce smoking or programmes that make healthy food more affordable can therefore prevent thousands of cases, saving lives and reducing the long-term strain on hospitals. Vaccination programmes are another example of prevention that is both cheap and highly effective.

Nevertheless, there are strong reasons to fund treatment and research. Not every disease can be prevented; genetic conditions, many cancers and new infectious diseases require medical innovation. The rapid development of vaccines during the recent pandemic showed how valuable research investment can be. Furthermore, people who are already ill have an urgent and legitimate claim on public resources.

In my view, the two approaches are complementary rather than competing. However, because prevention reduces the number of people who need expensive treatment in the first place, shifting more funding towards it would make the whole system more sustainable over time.

In conclusion, governments should increase spending on preventive healthcare while maintaining solid support for research, as this balance offers the greatest benefit for public health.