EG3246 Spatial Science & Health Health Organisations

Topics  National health organisations  Private national health organisations  International health organisations  NGOs  Research and overview bodies

National Health Organisations  UK National Health Service was set up in 1948  It is the largest organisation in Europe  The NHS is funded by the taxpayer and managed by the Department of Health, which sets overall policy on health issues

NHS structure in England (Source: NHS, 2006)

National Health Organisations  Primary care trusts (PCTs) receive 75% of core NHS funding overall  PCTs are meant to offer a service that reflects local requirements rather than rely on blanket national policy  Provision for sufficient resources and their management are the main role of local PCTs

National Health Organisations  28 Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) were set up in 2002 by the Government  Each SHA is empowered to control local NHS services on behalf of the Secretary of State  Being strategic they undertake: Planning improvements to services Ensuring quality standards Increasing capacity of local services Ensuring national policy filters down to local levels

Private National Health Organisations  BUPA has its own hospitals and clinics as well as offering private health insurance plans  Other private health insurance companies will pay for patient care at a private clinic or hospital (such as BUPA)  Norwich Union, Standard Life, BUPA, MediBroker, Legal & General etc all exist to offer policies

Private National Health Organisations  Advantages include: Reduced waiting times for operations More pleasant environment (own room etc) Access to expensive drugs Better equipment and technology

International Health Organisations  World Health Organization (WHO) Established in 1948 Based in Geneva Part of the United Nations Infrastructure The attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

International Health Organisations  The WHO is governed by 192 states which together make up the World Health Assembly  Main tasks for the assembly are to: Approve the WHO programme Monitor and approve the WHO budget Decide key policy issues

WHO HQ in Geneva Africa Americas Europe E. Mediterranean W Pacific S.E Asia Goodwill Ambassadors General WHO Administrative Structure

NGOs  Non Governmental Organisations may operate under special circumstances Third World countries Areas affected by natural disasters or war Diseases and conditions poorly under resourced Action paid for by existing medical charities Politics!

Research & Overview Bodies  Large-scale drugs trials Malaria Vaccine  Medical foundations Bill and Melinda Gates Wellcome Trust  Ethics and review bodies Proliferation of biological weapons Ethics of intervention and drug trials

References  BUPA  NetDoctor  World Health Organization (WHO) NHS in England