(S.12) What is 'Health Policy'?

Question 1

policy

Answer 1

broad statement of goals, objectives and means that create the framework for activity

Question 2

T or F: policy often takes place in implicit unwritten forms

Answer 2

F: Often takes the form of explicit written documents, but may also be implicit or unwritten

Question 3

Public policy

Answer 3

a course of action or inaction chosen by public authorities to address a given problem (anything a government chooses to do or not to do)

Question 4

health policy

Answer 4

courses of action (and inaction) that affect the set of institutions, organizations, services and funding arrangements of the health and health care system

Question 5

T or F: health policies are always private

Answer 5

F: Can be both public and private

Question 6

Healthy public policy

Answer 6

public policies outside of the health sector “characterized by an explicit concern for health and equity in all areas of policy and by an accountability for health impact

Question 7

policy vs program

Answer 7

• Policy: broad statement of goals, objectives and means that create the framework for activity
  ○ ex. reduce # of overdoses/ deaths caused by opioids
• Program: activity that organizes or delivers a service or goods to achieve a policy’s objectives
  ○ ex. Ontario Naloxone Program for Pharmacies (free Naloxone kits)

Question 8

politics

Answer 8

the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy

Question 9

understanding the _______ of the policy process is arguably as important as understanding how medicine improves health

Answer 9

politics

Question 10

T or F: policy is always the decision to do something

Answer 10

F: can be the decision to do nothing