International Healthcare Policy: A Comparative Analysis Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of international healthcare policies, with a specific focus on the United Kingdom. It explores the impact of socio-cultural issues on healthcare attitudes, compares healthcare policies and funding models between the UK and other nations like Pakistan, and examines the structure of care centers and the translation of policies into practice. The report also addresses barriers to healthcare provision, the impact of healthcare campaigns, and current national and international health issues. Key topics include the role of government in regulating healthcare, the influence of cultural and societal factors on service delivery, and the challenges in implementing healthcare policies effectively. The analysis highlights differences in healthcare access based on socio-economic status and discusses funding mechanisms for the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. This document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a range of study tools and solved assignments for students.

International Health Care Policy
Assignment by
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
A) Impact of socio-cultural issues on the attitude towards health care.......................................1
B) Evaluating and comparison between the healthcare policy of two nations and its impact on
funding........................................................................................................................................3
C) Structure of care centres and translation of policies into practices........................................4
D) Barriers to Provision of Healthcare........................................................................................7
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................8
A) Impact and demand of Campaigns healthcare centres of UK................................................8
B) Current national and international health issues and national policies for its remedies......10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

INTRODUCTION
Healthcare are the life blood of each and every nation in order to prevent disease and cure
the life the of the needy. Each country has wide range of sufferers that are experiencing wide
range of diseases. Government is the major regulator of the healthcare policies so as to promote a
safe and healthy environment in the nation (Powell, 2016). Main aim of the present report is to
highlight and explore the healthcare policies of the organizations as well as the government at
international level. Further, it also enlightens the readers about the campaigning of public health
and contemporary issues being faced in the nation. It also acknowledges learners about the
effects and impact of the social, cultural and political issues that hampers the operations of care
centres. All such policies, norms and structure have been highlighted in context with United
Kingdom which is the currently chosen for the scenario and is further being compared with that
of other nations.
TASK 1
A) Impact of socio-cultural issues on the attitude towards health care
Culture of UK is included by its history. Further, it is a multi-culture nation in which
there are different type of linguistic groups, religious and ethnics. It has a rich culture that
includes music, language, family, literature and food. Attitude of people towards healthcare are
effective. However, because of ethnic and diversity in UK, there are differences in social and
cultural attitudes across nations. In this context, there are different type of issues that common, it
includes religious, traditional and moral believes. These have high impact over policies related to
healthcare in UK.
Healthcare is a non profit organization that functions to provide services and products for
the betterment of the society and its people. These corporation faces several issues in form of
dealing with its patients. The reason behind it is that, there are wide range of service users that
visit each day which comes from different nations, background, religions and society. Both the
patients and care givers are in dilemma to deal with each other (Albert, 2016). The main cultural
constraints that may be faced by the physicians and diligent includes the differences in beliefs,
values, language and attitude of both the persons engaged hereunder:
There are wide range of languages being spoken in the United Kingdom. However, most
of the citizens chooses to speak in English which is the native language of the Britishers. In
contrast to the above, UK is a vast country and each person has a different ascent which differs
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from region to region. These further prevails in health care institutes and creates a problem in
understanding the patients. Furthermore, it has been ascertained that almost more than half of the
aged citizens of the said nation does not believe in God. Therefore, in order to provide quality
and deliberate services at the health and social care centres of the United Kingdom, it is essential
to understand the belief, values, attitudes, tradition, linguistic factors of the patients by the
caregiver (Jones and Genao, 2003). For instance, a difference in the language of the two people
may create communication barrier and hence impact on the type of services at the healthcare.
Likewise, usually the people of UK greet each other by shaking hands but if the diligent is an
orthodox that is against such gestures, then the physician, doctor or nurse may avoid the same. In
addition to the above, some longanimous does not like to greet the persons of opposite sex.
Therefore, all such culture factors shall be avoided and taken care by the such institutes so as to
avoid any of discrepancies at the hospital.
Society is also another influencer of service delivery in health and social care centres.
There are large number of citizens residing in UK which have different income, class, education
and other phenomenonsphenomenon’s which is likely to impact the delivery of services in
healthcare (Blumenthal and DiClemente, 2013). However, keeping the current situation in mind,
the government of the concerned nation has announced policies of free healthcare services across
the country.
Furthermore, there exist several other issues which is likely to impact the operations of
the health care organization. These include attitudes of the people towards the care centres or the
hospital. Some of the young teens of the UK have the habit of destroying the properties of
concern which will impact and affect its operations. Likewise, the attitudes care givers and takers
also affect its operations (Henry and Stephens, 2013). There are certain nurses and physicians
that are careless towards their work and does not provide efficient services to the patients. These
are the major issues that require utmost consideration of the management of healthcare centres so
as to manage a balance between the culture, society and attitudes towards the trust or hospitals of
UK.
However, in contrast to the above, the cultural and behaviour of citizens towards the
healthcare organization is considerable then the others. They possessespossess a positive attitude
towards these institutes by providing certain types of help and resources required by the
healthcare institutes. Furthermore, numerous communities also assist these organizations by
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providing them with necessary financial resources so as to purchase relevant assets and
equipmentsequipment’s in order to render services.
B) Evaluating and comparison between the healthcare policy
Healthcare policy formation is an act of defining the goals and objectives of the nation
and thereby setting priorities and targets that needs to be achieved in the respective period of
time. This can be accomplished by the means of undertaking deliberate actions and policies
which will further assist in attaining the mission and vision of the country.
Currently, the government of the United Kingdom has announced a healthcare policy
wherein all the people or citizens of the country can avail the health care services at free of cost.
There were only two services that will be rendered at no amount of money which includes
infectious disease and use of emergency treatments. However, availing rest other services from
the hospital will cost money to the purchaser (Viruell-Fuentes, Miranda and Abdulrahim, 2012).
In addition to the above, there were two persons that were inhibited from using such services
these includes the illegal immigrants and visitors that or the non resident of the country. The
main purpose behind the launch of this policy is that to promote the a healthy and safe
environment in the country as well as meet the current challenges or issues of high amount of
accidents and infections that is spreading in the nation. Furthermore, to meet the requirements of
the lower income group people, these policies were launch. These policies and laws are
determined and formulated by the executives which includes the president of the country as well
as the politician parties (Levesque, Harris and Russell, 2013). These are more often called as
cabinet which decides the respective policies and plans after complete evaluation of the current
needs and requirements of the citizens. The influence of their decision making of healthcare
policy largely depends upon the current period, country and last but not the least the impact and
nature of policy on the stake. Difference in society and class prevails in availing the services of
the healthcare institutes. The rich and elite class people receives higher quality services from the
hospital and special care as well as preferences by the physicians. This is so because they
provide the institutes with extra money and other resources so as to treat them with utmost
vigour (Hou and Ke, 2015). Nonetheless, the lower income group people or persons with less
resources derive services not in the most significant manner. They need to wait in queues at the
emergency gates to avail the services. Therefore, a wide range of difference as well as
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discrimination prevails between each citizens on the basis of economic resources of the each. In
addition to the above, special preference is being provided to the elite and rich class people.
Pakistan NHS is completely different as compare to UK because there are not much Funding
models – NHS is state funded -100% and in Pakistan there is government and private medical
care available to the patients.
In regards to the funds that are required by the healthcare institutes in the UK, the
government has subject to mainly two concepts wherein the funds can be easily catered for these
services either through the public or private funds. First and the foremost, NHS the largest trust
of the UK is getting funded through the tax payers including the government funds as well.
Herein, the resource allocation was the major concern of the government rather than making
facilities on the basis on income proportionment (Purnell, 2014). Another model was also
launched by the government named as European model which was started under the presidency
of Derek Wanless wherein the employers and employees need to contribute their funds for the
healthcare development.
On the other hand, finance is also generated by the means of services or medicines that is
being rendered to the patient and the amount that is paid for the services which is being offered.
Along with that funds are also generated through the means of private insurance companies that
is who are engaged in offering the amount of funds required to purchase a new machine or
technology (Grol and et.al., 2013). Similarly, the health care firm also face issues regarding the
the amount of beds and other equipments needed to meet the current demand of services. All
these require funds by the concerned.
Funding for NHS comes from the Department of health. They provide necessary
resources to the healthcare in England for better functioning. Furthermore, the assist in
improvement and innovation of the services. These funding policies impact the practices of the
healthcare institutes as funds are also accumulated from the taxation system.
Unlike the above discussed policies in the United kingdom, each and every country has
its own norms and regulations. Similarly, in UK the regulation of health care policies and
practices lies in the hands of the state government rather than the central or federal government.
Furthermore, the above scripted policies and practices are not implemented in the desirable
manner as it has been suggested (Harker, 2012). In addition to this, there has been alteration in
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the hospital financing over the period of time. Previously, the funds were provided by the
provincial and cooperation funds but now the Diagnosis related Group is involved in financing
the institutes.
This in turn affects the implementation of government policies and practices. Moreover,
rendering free services on the above mentioned disease is not as easy as possible. Along with
that, due to lack of finance it becomes difficult to implement the same.
C) Structure of care centres and translation of policies into practices
Structure is the part and parcel of every organization as it decides the amount of roles and
responsibilities of each of the department or person engaged under it. Likewise, the healthcare
services of every single country has its own structure. Some of the departments are concerned
with determining the policies regarding the current issues while on the other hand some are
involved in catering the respective amount of funds so as to implement the new policies without
any hindrance (Di Marco, Lee and Darzi, 2013).
Further, these departments or NHS have their own set of personnel’s and professionals
which is accountable to carry out their task and functions. In regards to the NHS trust of
England, the structure of the corporation is quite complex (Buckell and et.al., 2016). It is divided
into two broad sectors wherein one of them deals with management, policy and strategies while
the other is responsible to deal with the clinical care and actual medical services. These further
have their own sub sections such as the primary and secondary department. The erstwhile
comprises of the pharmacists, General practitioners, community care, dentist and several others.
Similarly, the latter encompasses of the hospital or care centre based personnel’s. Another
section comprises of the tertiary sector wherein specialists are present.
Likewise, it can be assessed that the NHS England which is the most prominent and
renowned health care centre in the UK has it own structure wherein duties and responsibilities
are assigned to different department and activities are managed in accordance to it. In UK the
federal or the central government is involved in managing the healthcare policies of England.
While on the other hand, governments of the Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is
responsible to determine the policies of these regions. The resource allocation and the amount of
services being rendered differ from one another.
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However, the structure of an organization such as NHS has a consequent impact
on the operations of the same as well as affects the implementation of the proposed policies. The
care centre mainly emphasises on rendering the best services to its patients rather than merely
focusing on implementing the proposed policies of the central government (Kirkpatrick, 2016).
Therefore, it has been noted in an article wherein the government has proposed a new strategy in
which the NHS will focus more on the creating a responsive as well as patient centred approach
so as to attain the most possible results of the same. Therefore, to meet or translate the concerned
policies the hospital so as to implement is for the best interest of the public. The concerned
organization is providing its services almost all across the world which means it is also engaged
in rendering international services to the people. In order to function in other nations or overseas
market, the hospital needs to adjust itself according to the policies and norms of the respective
country (Squires, 2012). The current policy of the NHS is to provide quality services to its
patients. Therefore, to implement into the foreign country, the said hospital needs to comply by
the laws and policies of the host nation and design its strategies accordingly.
Some of issues faced by NHS is related to the funding and resources available which are not
enough available for providing treatment. There are different health care organization which
works with NHS which help in providing best quality services to its customer
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The above figure presented figure aids in better understanding of the functions and
structure of the NHS England. Activities of each department is interlinked with one another and
also depends upon the information provided by the other. Some of the duties and role of each of
the department of NHS has been enumerated underneath:
The Ccare Quality commission Commission (CQC) is responsible to assure health and
safety policies are properly implemented in the organizational setting. It reviews the current
systems and practices so as to implement the policies into practices. Some of the polices
regarding the health and safety of the employees are looked after the CQC
personnelspersonnel’s. Furthermore, the clinical commissioning group and the general
practitioners are responsible to the reduce the mortality rates by laying their significant
contribution in the said field. Moreover, it has been ascertained that since the documents
regarding the same has not been presented to the primary level practitioners which thereby
affects the implementation of policies into practices. Additionally, it has been assessed that the
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respective healthcare is planning to establish a new technological system through which the
patients can take appointments through online booking system. This is a best practice of keep a
record of information of the patients attended in a respective period of time.
In addition to the above, as discussed above funds for NHS are catered from both the
Department of Health and taxation system. Apart from this, as NHS is a trust that needs to render
free services to the society, therefore, it requires necessary resource's for the same. This in turn
influences the implementation of policies into practices.
Extending the above demonstrated topic, when NHS is functioning on an international
basis, then its policies and structure should be in such a manner that renders utmost benefit to the
host country. The drugs and services shall not be in accordance to the UK rather than be able to
meet and satisfy the requirements of the nation for which it is functioning. Furthermore, the
services or functions shall be in alignment with those of the policies ad plans of host country
regarding the health issues. The NHS must also ensure that proper coordination between all its
partner is made to conduct the activities without any hindrance (The Framework For NHS
Involvement In International Development, 2010).
c Barriers to Provision of Healthcare
United Kingdom is avasta vast country which has wide range of health care centres
located at different regions. But their are certain barriers that restricts the provision of the
healthcare policy in the concerned nation. Many of the people faces issues in availing such
services and some of the main barriers have been enumerated underneath:
There are different barrier in healthcare care that is cultural barrier, communication barrier etcs
different type of people have different language which lead to create improper communication
between services provider and service users.
For instance, while dealing with a Muslim patient, the care giver may face issues or dilemmas
due to the difference in the values and belief of each of the person (Wilburn and Eijkemans,
2013). Like a Muslim have the habit of fasting for 30 days in Ramadan while on the other hand,
the general practitioners cannot allow him to keep fast for the entire month as it may affect its
health. This is a form of barrier to healthcare provisions.
Likewise, it has been ascertained that the travellers of UK and gypsies face several issues
in availing the healthcare services as they have been racially abused by the ethnic group as well
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as media. Therefore, it is also a sort of barrier to healthcare provision which further affects the
health of the patient and put their life at risk (Mills, 2014).
In addition to the above, there prevails several cultural barriers which is likely to hamper
the policies of the Health care institutes. For instance, in accordance to the gypsy culture, people
are not allowed to discuss their health concerns with any other individual of the opposite sex.
Therefore, the ladies faces issues regarding to disclose their personal issues as well as taking
appointment with the general practitioners so as to get remedy for the disease.
There are other barriers in the health care institutes which includes the physicians
refusing to treat a person that is brought from the lower background or is treated as an
untouchable. However, such practices is more prevalent in the countries such as India but it is
rather witnessed in almost all of the nation including the UK. This can be noted in the case of
gypsies wherein they are deprived to avail such services from the NHS trust. Moreover, there are
62% of the illiterate gypsies being experienced in the UK which faces issues regarding the
language that is used by the care practitioners and therefore the services are not provided to them
(Mason, Leavitt and Chaffee, 2013). Furthermore, the new services that is being rendered by the
NHS trust are advertised via the means of flyers and posters which are written and posted in the
native language of UK. This becomes difficult by the travellers and gypsies to get understood.
All these coincides and cause or deprive the concerned persons from availing the new provisions
or services that is being rendered by them. These include the check-ups, diabetes test, screening,
mental health services, peri-natal care and many more.
Another barriers that has been witnessed by the care centres include, the trends and
family role of gypsies. They does not prefer to avail the services from the hospitals when of their
family member gets sick (Kitson and et.al., 2013). Each and every member is so well responsible
that they take care of the victim in the most appropriate manner. In addition to the above, all
these are likely to hamper the services that is being rendered by the practitioners. This is so
because such nature and culture of these families will affect the GP to offer most efficient
services by visiting their homes.
All the above demonstrated issues are major barriers in the provision of healthcare
services in United kingdom.
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TASK 2
A) Impact and demand of Campaigns healthcare centres of UK
Campaigns are the means of awaking people about the several concerns regarding the use
or consumption of equipments orof materials that are injurious to their health (Gulliford and
Morgan, 2013). CDC (Centre of disease control and prevention) has conducted many of such
campaigns to publicize the services that it is rendering and also the methods or measures to stop
the use of several materials that may affect the health of the individual. Therefore, the concerned
organization has laid several measure in the similar context wherein the people or citizens of
India, African-America, Hispanics, Alaska, and many other were aware about the Tobacco
campaign (Eldh and Wallin, 2015). Herein, viewers were explained about the use of such
materials and their consequent impact on the health of the persons engaged with it. They were
also acknowledged about the several disease such as asthma, chronic pulmonary, smoking and
diabetes were enumerated to them. A sincere effort was laid by the CDC to reduce or banned
smoking and the use of Tobacco in each and every country was made. All such actions by the
young teens and other persons have a negative impact on their life as well as health.
Furthermore, CDC also launched several other campaigns including the impact of HIV
and Aids on the citizens of the Americans and other people. The risk that was associated with the
same has been demonstrated in the said campaigns.
There are different type of campaign which help in making aware people about different type of
disease and way for preventing them such as Cigarette campaign, cancer campaign and obesity
campaign. In cigarette campaign it help in making aware people how much cigarette is harmful
for their health. Its impact on community that if children see elder smoking then they will also
try the same.
All these campaigns and promotional activities have a significant impact on creating the
demand of the health care services. Hence, it can be stated that campaigns and promotional
activities done by the healthcare institutes of the UK such as CDC and NHS has a significant
impact on its operations (Ahmed and et.al., 2012). Larger and wider the share of people are
aware about the health concerns more prominent and specific will they become towards these
issues. The government of the UK also assist such campaigns to spread across worldwide and
reduce the usage of unethical materials. However, this could be assessed from all the
promotional campaigns being done by the care centres (Qaseem and et.al., 2012). Further, they
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cater or attract those customers which are suffering from such disease and needs to be get cured.
Furthermore, the promotional activities conducted by the such institutes also presents the
remedies to get over such malady. All these are the best means to create publicity of the
concerned organization by adding their name in the respective advertisement. However, more
and more number of people gets attracted towards the care centre to avail such services thereby
creating the demand for the same.
However, there are several promotional activities thatactivities that are undertaken on the
national and international level which gets affected by the means of factors such as social and
political. These can be further elaborated in the terms of the constraints that are introduced by the
government of the parent or the host country for pursuing such activities. The health care require
permissions of the government before getting into any such activities. Certain political parties
may find their interest in it and they may approve such campaigns while on the other hand in
other nations these might be against their legislation and may be banned (Powell, 2016).
Similarly, some of the campaigns regarding the adolescent children or teens are banned in the
countries like India while on the other hand it may be allowed in some other continent.
Therefore, the society and the culture has a significant impact on the promotional and
campaigning activities of the Health care in the UK as the activities that is allowed in the
respective region may be inhibited in some another area.
Health promotion is the concept wherein the people are made aware about the methods or
ways in which health of the people can be preserved. This is a three way process wherein the
needs and aspirations of the people are ascertained, then these are satisfied by the means of using
diverse methods by reviewing the changing environment. Health promotion has now been taken
the pathway of ecological health promotion, wherein citizens are made aware about the changing
global environment and health needs associated with the same.
Some of the health promotion policies undertaken by the government of UK includes
banning smoking in clubs, restaurants and pubs, health education system. Ban on smoking is
very effective for people and through the help of health care professionals smokers can take
treatment to overcome smoking
Herein students in schools are made aware about the drug and sexual education, banning sale of
alcohol in certain areas, promoting environmental health awareness by the means of reusing
bags, etc. these are some of the health promotional activities undertaken by the government in
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