Question

Policy analysis dealing with health care in Canada.

Policy analysis is a disciplined application of intellet to public problems, why is it important to practise policy analysis?

Answer 1

- Policy analysis: in comparison, refers to applied social and scientific research pursued by government officials and non-governmental organizations usually directed at designing, implementing, and evaluating existing policies, programmes and other specific courses of action adopted or contemplated by states.

- Why its Important to Practice Policy Analysis?

Ans: 1. The ultimate purpose of public policy is to increase the welfare of society.

2. An allocatively efficient policy is one that achieves the maximum difference between the social benefits and social costs relative to the alternatives.

3. Policy Analysis discussions have long acknowledged the need for a shift of resources from health services designed to control, cure, or alleviate disease to efforts to maintain and enhance health by addressing a broad range of social, economic, genetic and other health determinants. The intent is to develop new initiatives designed to reduce the long-term demand for health care services.

4. The adequacy of public funding and its sustainability in the future are an enduring part of health policy Analysis discussions. Achieving consensus on how much public money to spend, what future spending priorities to establish, where to obtain any additional money, and whether the funding can achieve the desired health outcomes continues to be difficult, if not impossible.

5. Current policy analysis focuses on the issue of appropriate care by appropriate providers in appropriate settings. At present, the dominant model involves solo practice physicians serving as the first line of entry into a health care system where the hospital is the central setting for care delivery. Overall, the health care sector employs about one in ten Canadians and depends on a steady supply of well-trained health care providers who can be appropriately distributed throughout the country.

Ways to shift boundaries between physicians and providers of alternative therapy, such as chiropractors and naturopaths, and between physicians and others who play important educational roles, such as nurses, pharmacists and nutritionists, are being re-examined.

6. Renewed attention has been directed to measuring, tracking and reporting on the performance of Canada’s health system. Such information is intended to assist individuals, governments, and health care providers in making more informed choices; promoting the identification and sharing of best practices; and increasing understanding of the desired use and outcomes of health services.

Above remedies are helpfull for Canadian Healthcare System to develope its Quality of care and Health system. Health policy development in Canada faces many challenges. One of the most significant is defining health and designing the means of achieving it. There is clear recognition that we need to move from a system focused predominantly on health care to one more oriented to improved health status.