Introduction to Healthcare Systems

What is Healthcare?

• Healthcare refers to the organized provision of medical services to maintain or improve health.
• It encompasses a wide scope, including preventive, diagnostic, curative, and rehabilitative services.
• The importance of healthcare lies in its role in increasing life expectancy, reducing disease burden, and improving quality of life.

Historical Evolution of Healthcare Systems

• Early healthcare systems were rooted in traditional medicine and community-based care.
• Modern healthcare evolved through advances like germ theory, antibiotics, and specialized hospitals.
• Today, healthcare systems have transformed with technological innovations and global health policies.

Healthcare Delivery Models

• Public healthcare is government-funded, focusing on universal access, while private healthcare is profit-driven and user-funded.
• Healthcare is categorized into primary care (basic care), secondary care (specialist services), and tertiary care (advanced treatments).
• Delivery models vary globally, integrating public, private, and mixed approaches to ensure accessibility and quality.

Global Healthcare Systems

• Healthcare systems like the NHS (U.K.), Medicare/Medicaid (U.S.), and universal systems (Canada) differ in funding, access, and delivery.
• The U.K. emphasizes public funding through taxation, while the U.S. relies heavily on insurance-based models.
• Universal healthcare systems aim to provide equitable care without financial hardship to patients.

Roles of Healthcare Professionals

• Doctors diagnose and treat illnesses, leading clinical teams to improve patient outcomes.
• Nurses play a vital role in patient care, including monitoring, administering medication, and providing support.
• Allied health professionals (e.g., physiotherapists, lab technicians) and administrators ensure efficient healthcare delivery.