The health care system is the largest and most complex system of social welfare in the world. It is responsible for the health and well being of all citizens. The health care system has three main components, namely: the public sector, the private sector and the voluntary sector. The public sector consists of the government departments such as the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education. The private sector includes private hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. The voluntary sector consists of religious bodies, charities, non-governmental organizations and community groups.
In Canada, the health care system is funded by the federal government through the Department of National Health and Welfare (DOHW) and provincial governments through the Ministries of Health. There are three levels of health care services in Canada, namely: primary health care, secondary health care and tertiary health care. Primary health care is provided by the family physician or general practitioner (GP). Secondary health care is provided by the hospital, long term care facilities and other health care providers. Tertiary health care is provided by the specialist doctors and other health care professionals.
In Canada, there are two types of health care providers, namely: private and public. Private health care providers include physicians, dentists, psychologists, pharmacists, chiropractors and optometrists. Public health care providers include nurses, medical assistants, paramedics, midwives, physiotherapists, speech therapists and dieticians. There are also many private health care organizations which provide health care services at a lower cost than that provided by the public health care providers.
There are three levels of health care in the United States, namely: primary health care (PHC), secondary health care (SHC) and tertiary health care (THC). PHC is provided by the family doctor or general practitioner (GP). SHC is provided by the hospital, nursing homes, home health agencies, hospice agencies, clinics and emergency rooms. THC is provided by the specialist doctors, surgeons, psychiatrists, neurologists, cardiologists, orthopedic surgeons, dermatologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, ear nose and throat specialists, podiatrists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, pediatricians, gynecologists, obstetricians, and anesthesiologists.
In the United States, there are four types of health care providers, i.e., private, public, not-for-profit and for-profit. Private health care providers include doctors, dentists, nurses, psychologists, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors, optometrists, speech therapists, dietitians, and home health aides. Public health care providers include physicians, nurses, paramedics, medical assistants, midwives, and medical technicians. Not-for-profit health care providers include health maintenance organizations (HMOs), private hospitals, home health agencies, clinics, health insurance companies and other not-for-profit organizations. For-profit health care providers include insurance companies, hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, diagnostic laboratories, and other for-profit organizations.