Introduction
This topic covers what health policy is, how it relates to health strategy and health management, how Bulgarian law assigns them, the structure of a health policy, the steps for building one, its types, and the idea of health in all policies. Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Policy is a principle or protocol to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes. A health policy is a decision at political level to ensure good health.
Health strategy, health policy and health management
Health strategy
- Made by the government; in Bulgaria it is an official document approved by the Council of Ministers on a proposal of the Minister of Health and adopted by the National Assembly (parliament). It is a single document.
- Duration is more than 5 years, generally 8, 10 or 15 years.
- Consists of a general aim (e.g. to improve the general health of the population in the next 10 years) and specific priority actions; the country usually defines the long-term aim of the development of the health care system in it.
- The Minister of Health is chiefly responsible for initiating all health policies and achieving the aims of the strategy.
Health policy
- One of the major tasks of social medicine and public health: the activities at governmental level concerning health care issues. Each ministry that forms the government has its own sectoral policies.
- Closely related to health strategy and management. Several policies are needed to implement one strategy; they are detailed documents of how the strategy is achieved.
- In Bulgaria it is managed and implemented by the Council of Ministers: documents and plans approved by it for the realisation of specific tasks. It includes laws that regulate health care services.
- Health in all policies: a decision on a health policy needs approval and arrangement of activities together with other areas of life. E.g. a new policy to prevent infectious diseases would require practically all areas of government: security, internal affairs, education, economy, agriculture, army, etc. A health policy therefore needs approval and support from all areas governed by the government.
Health management
- The real work that has to be done: the practical implementation of all requirements and details set by the policy and strategy; the priorities of the strategies and policies are realised and practised (routine, processes and actions).
- Usually organised and controlled by the Ministries of Health and their regional offices.