Health services are provided by professionals such as doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers who are trained to help patients achieve optimum health and wellbeing. These professionals work to prevent and treat disease, promote healthy lifestyles, provide counseling for emotional problems, and support people with physical disabilities or chronic conditions. They are supported by health care facilities, including hospitals and clinics. Some of these health services include immunizations, ambulatory surgery, and hospice care.
Primary health care (PHC) is the foundation for achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and sustainable development goals 3 and 4. It aims to provide comprehensive, accessible, integrated and high quality healthcare that is responsive to local contexts. It focuses on promoting, protecting and improving the health of individuals and communities and addressing inequities by reducing socio-economic disparities. Health systems strengthening includes efforts to strengthen governance and financing; the health workforce; information and communication; quality and patient safety; community-based rehabilitation; health promotion; prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases; and maternal, child, adolescent and perinatal health.
The health services industry is a global one with many different career paths available for professionals. There are also a variety of options for advancement, such as returning to school for a degree, earning licensure and certification, and attending continuing education courses. Additionally, many working professionals seek membership in a professional organization to stay on top of emerging techniques and theories.
Generally speaking, there are four models for funding of health services: government/compulsory insurance, market-based private insurance, and non-governmental sources of funds such as household out-of-pocket payments or voluntary medical insurance. All of these model options have advantages and disadvantages, and which one a country chooses depends on many factors, including its political situation, population health needs, and economic resources.
While some may argue that more funding for the health services industry will lead to increased life expectancy, this is not necessarily true. In fact, in some OECD countries, for every additional USD spent on health services, life expectancy decreases by 0.04 years.
Ultimately, it is the health services industries job to make sure that all people have access to a comprehensive system of care that is designed to meet their unique health and wellness needs. This will require a comprehensive approach that addresses the many barriers to optimal health and well-being, such as poverty, discrimination, gender inequality, sexism, and inequalities in access to healthcare. This is the only way to ensure that all people can reach their full health potential. This can be achieved through a strong and sustained partnership between governments, the private sector, and civil society organizations. Together, they can work to implement the 10 essential public health services. A successful partnership will focus on providing the right service at the right time to the right person. Moreover, it will also focus on identifying the most cost-effective and efficient ways to deliver those services. This will include ensuring that all healthcare providers, whether in the public or private sectors, have the tools they need to provide excellent care to their patients.