Health Agencies
Background of Health Agencies
Health is a fundamental aspect of human life and a key determinant in the economic progression of any state or nation. The understanding of health goes beyond the absence of ailment and considers the reliable stability of both the physical body and mind. Health covers the overall wellness of a person, which provides optimal conditions for his or her performance. It is severally asserted by economic researchers that the health of a nation greatly determines its wealth (Turnock, 2004). It is with such understanding that governments and states lay great emphasis on this health issue. Literally, all nations across the world have an elaborate health department or agency to take care of this critical aspect (Scanlon, 1977).
Such health agencies are clearly structured to the right for the top national level to the grassroots to ensure that all citizens access these services. The notably significant sectors covered include diseases and their deterrence, environmental health, drug administration and safety of user products, food and nutrition, healthcare systems and facilities, community, and family health insurance. In the recent past, information on health has been instrumental in government policies for development. Lately, health insurance has become a key consideration and governments across the globe have explored the same to effectively cater for the health needs of citizens (Alston, 2010).
Structures of Health Agencies
Health Canada
The Ministry of Health is one of the core departments in the Government of Canada. It is structured in branches and agencies that collectively make up the ministry.
The Minister of Health is at the top in command under who is the Deputy Minister for Health assisted by the Associate Deputy Minister then Chief Public Health Officer in that order. The bureaus under Health Canada include Public Health, Human Reproduction, Health Research, Hazardous Materials Review and Patented Medicine Prices Board. Main Branches of Health Canada include Audit and Accountability section, Healthy Foods and Products branch, Consumer Safety and Healthy Environment Branch, Programs & Regions Branch and Strategic Policy Branch. All these branches and agencies are coordinated elaborately to deliver health services to Canadian citizens.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
The department of Health and Human Services is charged with the sole responsibility of providing Health services to the citizens of the United States of America. It works closely with states and local government authorities to effectively deliver its mandate. Since the region covered is wide, the department has been partitioned into eleven working administrative divisions located in New York City, and ten other states spread evenly across the nation and Seattle. The department is headed by the Federal Secretary of Health alongside the Deputy Secretary and senior officials in the office of Public Health and Science, Inspector General and the Civil Rights. Services rendered include research, public health, food and drug safety, grants and other funding, health insurance (Cassel, 2001).
The stratification of Health department operations means that communication cuts across various levels of government starting from national through state to local government. Records at the different levels are closely connected but essential roles are at national level.
Functions of the various levels of Government in U.S
As earlier stated, the U.S department of Health and Home Services is hierarchically structured to deliver its services right from the national level to county level. Despite the fact that the different states have their own semi autonomous form of government, the fundamental health policies of the United States are harmonized in all the states. The states coordinate in terms of disease deterrence and regulation, vigilance, research and emergency services such as outbreak of a severely infectious disease.
Research centers exist in various states and are coordinated from the national level. Local governments in the various states offer complimentary services to the Health Departments of their states. Hospitals and other health centers are found easily accessible areas in the states to serve the citizens. Specialized cases are referred to more advanced health facilities in which case local governments can organize transportation of patients via ambulances. In general, the health agencies work together in providing health and home services to their citizens (Mood, 1995).
Definition of Public and Community Health Organization
According to the American Health dictionary, public health is defined as the art and science of protecting and improving health of the people through preventive medicine, health education and control of environmental hazards. Community health in the same breath examines and takes care of the general healthy living of people within a given society.
In conclusion, it can be observed that provision of health services is of ultimate importance to all nations. Structures are thus put in place to ensure that the citizens can access these facilities conveniently (McKenzie, et al., 2008).
References
Alston, J. (2010). Environmental strengthening Relationship. New York NY; Century Foundation.
Cassel, E. (2001). Medicare Home Health. Massachusetts: D.A. Allyn & Bacon.
McKenzie, F.M et al. (2008). An Introduction to Community Health. Community Health, 63 (17), pp. 608-609.
Mood, H. (1995). Nursing Health & Environmental strengthening Relationship. Time, 169(13), p.64.
Scanlon, J. (1977). Medicare Home Health Agencies. Home health care, 717 (502), pp. 590-591.
Turnock, J. (2004). Public Health. New York NY; Century Foundation.