WEEK 3

Question 1

what is policy

Answer 1

A ‘set of interrelated decisions […] concerning the selection of goals and the means of achieving them within a specified situation’

Question 2

3 concepts policy encompasses

Answer 2

Encompasses three different concepts

1. Naming a situation where governments make some public announcements
2. When public officials commit public resources to a program
3. When key institutions give legal force to the rights of some individuals and groups

Question 3

policies for health

Answer 3

healthy public policy

Value health as a social goal for all people, drives health promotion and is necessary for health equity

Question 4

policies about health

Answer 4

dominate the health sector

Mostly to do with the financing of hospitals, treatments, technologies

Question 5

public policy and its 4 types

Answer 5

Made by governments and authorities to tackle problems in the interest of all people There are four types of public policy:

• Distributive: services/benefits to a particular group
• Regulatory: restriction/regulation of behaviour
• Self-regulatory: sought by organisations to promote self interest
• Redistributive: aim to change distribution of income, access etc.

Question 6

3 ways healthy policy differs from other policies

Answer 6

1. The role of the medical profession in shaping and/or constraining health policies - not equivalent in other policy areas
2. Complexity of health care and the limited ability of consumers to distinguish quality in health service provision
3. Highly emotive - life and death decisions

Question 7

who are some key stakeholders in Australian health

Answer 7

Some key stakeholders in Australian health policy include

• Federal government
• Federal opposition
• State and Territory governments
• Key interest groups
• External interest groups