Healthcare has long been treated as a service delivered to individuals rather than as a shared project of society. Yet the challenges of pandemics, chronic illness, and rising costs reveal that no single actor can address the system’s shortcomings alone. Joe Kiani, Masimo and Willow Laboratories founder, has often highlighted that meaningful progress in healthcare depends on collaboration, with governments, innovators, and citizens working in tandem. This view positions healthcare not as a commodity but as a collective responsibility.

When people think of shared responsibility, they often imagine following public health rules or supporting government programs. While those things matter, the idea reaches further. It includes individual commitment to preventive care, government funding for equitable access, and innovation guided by values of safety and dignity. How these responsibilities intersect and reinforce each other will shape the future of healthcare.

Individuals as Active Participants

One cornerstone of shared responsibility is patient …