What is the health service for?

James, Amanda E

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02468.x

Topics

To the Editor: “What is the health service for?”1 In essence, this is a question of definition and ownership. What is the definition of quality health care and who decides how it is defined? Who are the recipients of health services, the funders, those who stand to lose or benefit from the way in which health care is delivered? The answer is citizens.

Melbourne, VIC.

Correspondence: aej222@yahoo.com.au

1. Menadue J. What is the health service for? Med J Aust 2008; 189: 170-171. <eMJA full text> <MJA full text>
2. Institute of Medicine. Crossing the quality chasm: a new health system for the 21st century. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 2000: 1-8. http://www.iom.edu/CMS/8089/5432/27184.aspx (accessed Feb 2009).
3. World Health Organization. The world health report 2000 — health systems: improving performance. Geneva: WHO, 2000. http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/ (accessed Feb 2009).
4. United Kingdom Department of Health. Our NHS our future [homepage on the Internet]. London: Department of Health. http://www.ournhs.nhs.uk/ (accessed Feb 2009).
5. Mooney GH. The people principle in Australian health care. Med J Aust 2008; 189: 171-172. <eMJA full text> <MJA full text>

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