Medical Sociology and Health Policies
Health policy refers to decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society. An explicit health policy can achieve several things: it defines a vision for the future which in turn helps to establish targets and points of reference for the short and medium term. It outlines priorities and the expected roles of different groups; and it builds consensus and informs people. Medical sociology is the study of the societal dimensions of health and medicine and it provides an analytical framework for understanding the social contexts of health, illness and health care. Healthcare is the maintenance or improvement of health via the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in human beings. Medical Sociologists, Social Science Researchers, Social Workers, Sociologists are the key persons in framing health policies.
- Social Contexts of health
- Sickness as deviance
- Prevention of disease
- Stigma and illness
- The sick role