Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care Provision

Running head: HEALTHCARE PROVISIONS
Policy, Power and Politics in health care provision
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HEALTHCARE PROVISIONS
1. Why is a policy cycle an appropriate tool for developing a new policy?
Policy is a collective term that encompasses the procedure of actions that is formulated
by a particular individual or organization. In other words, policies can be defined as factors that
comprise of a plethora of issues, visions, goals, ideas and thoughts, which in turn facilitate
development of particular plans that are put into action (Fleming & Parker, 2012). Moreover
policies also assist recognition of the ideas and theories that are imperative for designing the
structure or framework of the proposed actions.
Policy cycle is often considered essential and assists in formulation of new policies
owing to the fact that it comprises of the major frameworks that are made up of limited concepts.
This in turn facilitates accomplishment of the intended goals by the particular organization.
Hence, the policy cycle can be defined as a series of processes that follow certain pre-determined
steps. According to research evidences, different steps are followed by the Australian Policy
Cycle Model, while contriving new policies (Althaus et. al., 2013). The series of steps that are
present in the policy cycle model are most commonly associated with several issues or problems,
followed by policy analysis and utilization of appropriate tools or instruments, in combination
with consultation with experts with the aim of refining the instrument, accompanied by decision
making and a final evaluation and implementation of the recognised policy.
In other words, it can be stated that activities and ideas, which play a role in reducing the
existing inequalities are collected in a policy cycle, followed by appropriate resource sharing.
Policy cycle is imperative owing to the fact that not only does it illustrate the importance of a
structured, chronological, and constant process, but also helps in demonstrating a particular way,
that guides the procedure of recognising and performing essential things, in an effective way.

2HEALTHCARE PROVISIONS
The old policies are thereby replaced by newly formulated policies, in the complex network of a
policy cycle (Hugwood & Peters, 1983; Fisher, Miller & Sidney, 2006).
Thus, it can be concluded that formulation of new policies can be best conducted by
implementing a policy cycle. Although use of policy cycle fails to ensure complete success of the
process that relates to policy making, it plays a significant role in reducing chances of failure.
Identification of problem, searching for appropriate evidences, verification of proposal, advice
giving, and outcome evaluation are the essential steps performed while implementing certain
policies, with the aim of providing assistance to a certain organization for accomplishing its
intended goals.
3. How does the new public health differ from the old public health approach?
The subject that encompasses conduction of an exhaustive study of the art and science of
increasing lifespan of individual, preventing onset of chronic health diseases, and promoting the
overall health and wellbeing is referred to as public health. It is principally facilitated by
conducting an organisation of effort and taking into account the informed decisions of individual,
communities, society, public, and different private organisations. The concept of public health
often encompasses two approaches such as Old Public Health (OPH), and New Public Health
(NPH). Old Public Health illustrates the necessity of enhancing physical infrastructure that will
help in increasing life span, and also focuses on ensuring appropriate coverage of the major
issues, faced by the public such as, hygiene maintenance, vaccination, and access to safe
drinking water (Baum, 2008). On the other hand, New Public Health can be defined as an
integrative approach that works with the aim of promoting and safeguarding health status of all
individuals living in a community.

3HEALTHCARE PROVISIONS
It relies on the application of a methodological, political, conceptual and scientific
approach that works to determine the existing interrelationship of health of individuals living in a
community and the nation. In addition, concepts of moral and ethical aspects are also
encompassed by NPH, thereby improving the overall health related environment (Tulchinsky &
Varavikova, 2010).
The concept of Old Public Health had been introduced in the form of a major tool that
acted as a guiding principle for formulation of New Public Health concepts. While OPH
illustrates the importance of research technique that is based on epidemiology, NPH often
elaborates on different approaches and methodologies that are undertaken by health studies
(Baum, 2008). However the similarity between both these approaches can be attributed to the
fact that their primary objective is prevention of major diseases. An individual is always
considered healthy according to OPH if he/she fails to show signs of illness. On the other hand,
NPH often emphasizes on prevention of diseases and promoting the overall health and wellness
of individuals (Tulchinsky & Varavikova, 2010).
In addition, the primary objective of OPH also relies from the mechanism to control
contamination of food and water and prevent transmission of diseases, thereby reducing rates of
infection among individuals. It also emphasizes on recognition of the physical, social and mental
health needs of the vulnerable population (Baum, 2008). NPH focuses on mental health issues
such as prevailing chronic disorders or psychological condition and also helps in identifying risk
factors that govern chronic disorders and psychological condition, and also helps in identifying
risk factors that worsen the scenario (McMurray & Clendon, 2011).