The dramatic shifts that have occurred in the healthcare industry have had a strong impact on the influences that the government has. Through the Department of Health and other related departments and agencies, the government plays an essential role in the generation of resources within the healthcare sector, along with the structure of different health systems. The healthcare sector's goals and objectives are largely determined by the level of involvement of the government and the degree of influence. The government's role and influences over the healthcare industry have been adjusted over the years to achieve synchronicity with existing health standards. The government's influences on the healthcare industry have been crucial, as observed in the leadership and governance structures and health service delivery.
Leadership and Governance
The government generally acts as the guardian of social commitments and values such as equity and justice, outlined in the Constitution. The Department of Health assesses and directs the development of health systems by using its governance capabilities. This direction is mainly conducted by the formulation and evaluation of policies, creating standards for quality assurance, and evaluating existing health facilities to ensure policies are effectively implemented (Straube, 2013). Over the years, health systems have become highly complicated as the need to develop new best practices and innovative solutions increases. The government moderates this complexity by providing administrators in healthcare facilities with the guidelines to be followed. If the privatization of healthcare occurs, then a large section of the public will not be able to access healthcare services due to market forces. However, by converting health services into public goods, the government has been able to influence the leadership in the sector and ensure appropriate governance.
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Healthcare Service Delivery
While the financing of healthcare has been socialized, healthcare delivery is also, in some way, secured by the government. Public hospitals act as a way for the government to provide healthcare services. The government also enhances the protection of health services by implementing important public health functions such as a surveillance system. To fulfill these functions and protect national health security, the government is responsible for providing necessary medicines and vaccines while supporting laboratory networks. The government also enhances the access of the public to vaccines. This has meant that the government has been involved in providing clinical services at the primary, secondary, and tertiary health systems levels (IOM, 2003). These systems are made available in communities in work environments and public institutions. The government also has significant influence over the financing of the healthcare sector. Through the public budget and other contributive techniques, this institution can ensure that different groups have access to healthcare financing.
Conclusion
With time, the government's influences over the healthcare industry have been crucial in ensuring the continued growth and development of the sector. One way this influence is visible is through the direction and guidance of leadership and governance structures. Through the Department of Health, the government has established clear standards and rules upon which the healthcare sector is supposed to perform. The government has also affected the delivery of healthcare services at different levels. This mainly includes providing support to different healthcare companies to ensure that services are made available to the public. Healthcare financing by the government has also facilitated the operation of the industry.
References
Institute of Medicine (IOM). (2003). Leadership by example: Coordinating government roles in improving health care quality. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/10537
Straube, B. M. (2013). A role for the government on federal healthcare efforts in prevention. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 44 (1), S39-S42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.09.009
