Health Policy Formation - Essay Example

"Health Policy Formation" is a great example of a paper on the health system.
Health is an important factor both to the individual and to the nation. At the national level, good health is one of the predictors of economic growth according to Wall and Owen (2002). Health policy is important in determining the systems through which healthcare is provided, how health research is conducted and how healthcare training is done. As a result, health policies are important as they help in improving the health of the population. Health policy formation should thus be a concern for all governments. For instance, the Australian government has provided over $1.6 billion for supporting the health workforce for a four years period as suggested by Weissert and Weissert (2006). Health policies are important because they ensure every member of the public has access to medical care thus improving their lives and their health.

Health Policy Formation

The formation of health policy involves utilizing health research in order to understand the mechanisms involved in health matters.  Health policymaking is usually continuous - an interactive activity that involves organized thinking according to May (2009). The first aspect is identifying a health problem and recognizing its effects. The second aspect of policy formation is the formulation processes. After the policy is formulated, it is implemented and finally evaluated. Health policy formation also involves a reliable allocation of values.  However, the health policy should conform to the general national development.

Creators of Health Policy

Health Policy creation involves different people such as government ministers and officials, health service managers, and other representatives of health-related professional bodies as suggested by Milstead (2004). These groups of people are involved in health policymaking as they are in positions of authority that have special status to the group in which the health policies apply.

Conclusion

Health is one of the measures in evaluating the economic performance of a country or region. An effective health policy goes a long way in achieving good health among the population of a place. The health policy is formulated based on specific objectives and research, various stakeholders participating in the process. The stakeholders include government officials, health professionals, and civil organizations with interests in health matters. After the implementation of the policy, it needs to be evaluated periodically to establish its effectiveness with due regard to the objectives for which it was instituted.