Health and illness are never just biological; they are deeply shaped by society, culture, and institutions. This course invites students to explore how healthcare systems, health promotion, and disease prevention are embedded in broader social contexts, with particular attention to the Social Determinants of Health. We will critically examine competing explanations of sickness and well-being, asking how social inequalities, cultural norms, and institutional practices give rise to health disparities and shape both patient experiences and health outcomes. The course also introduces key debates in International Health Policy, highlighting how different societies organise and govern health care, and how these arrangements influence access, quality, and equity. Rather than treating medicine as a purely technical field, the course highlights its dynamic relationship with social realities and everyday life. It also equips students with conceptual tools to analyse health care systems and inequalities, which can be applied in a variety of clinical, public health, and health service contexts.