Functions of a Health System Flashcards
What is a health system?
the sum of organizations, institutions, and resources whose primary purpose is to improve health
What is the function of a health system?
3 goals for every health system:
1) good health
2) responsiveness to the expectations of the population
3) fairness of financial contribution
What does the World Health Report 2000 suggest the 4 functions of health systems are?
1) provide health services
2) generate resources: raise money that can be spent on health
3) financing: pay for health services
4) stewardship: govern and regulate the health system
What are the 3 levels of care?
Primary– first point of contact
Secondary– provided by some specialist physicians and general hospitals
Tertiary– provided by an array of specialist physicians and specialized hospitals
many low and middle income countries have these levels organized by geographic areas
What happened in the Alma-Ata?
-first articulated primary health care
-established health as a human right
-set the goal of “health for all” by 2000
What are the 2 matters discussed in the Alma-Ata?
-health as a human right
-people’s right to participate in the planning and implementation of health care
What are the characteristics of primary health care?
-essential and socially acceptable
-based on evidence and universally available
-addresses the needs of the community and is affordable
-provides preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services
-linked to health system through referral system
What does stewardship mean?
governing and regulating the health system include policy setting, enforcing regulation and laws related to health, disease surveillance and food and drug administration
What is the role of the public sector responsible?
-stewardship of the system
-raising the funds for the health system
-making decisions about allocating those funds
-establishing approaches to health insurance
What is the role of the private, for-profit sector?
-involved in the provision of services including non-licensed “medical practitioners”
-involved in the operation of health clinics, hospitals, services and laboratories
-can partner with the public sector or work under contract to the public sector
-is involved in essentially all countries
What is the role of the NGO, Private, Not-for-profit sector?
-often involved in community-based efforts to promote better health through education, improved water and sanitation
-often carry out health services
-can partner with the public sector or work under contract to the public sector
