Health policy

There are many definitions of "health". They include:

• Cultural definition;
• Normative definition;
• Functional definitions.

Health depends on a number of factors, including biological factor, environmental factor, nutrition and standard of living. In other words health can be seen as a function of welfare. Unfortunately, there are inequalities in health care. It depends on a persons' social class or other personal or social things and situations. Health policy is very important in every country.

In both countries, Lithuania and United Kingdom, heath care can be divided into a number of different branches:

• Hospital care;
• Primary care;
• Public health.

The health policy is much expanded in UK. The vast majority of health care in UK is provided by NHS (National Health Service). It is the publicly funded health care system in UK. The NHS is held to protect all citizens and their rights to health care.

Despite being quite developed country, Lithuanian health policy is not as expanded as in UK. The process of formulating a national health policy in Lithuania has undergone several stages. Unfortunately, this process is still facing considerable difficulties.