Differentiate between the political ideologies that underpin the delivery of healthcare services;

Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care

Subject description
This subject aims to provide students with the essential knowledge of the policy and political environment in which
health services operate. Clinicians, health service managers, health service planners and those intending to work in the
health service environment need to understand the political environment in which decisions are made, how health
policies are formulated and enacted, and how they are received. The subject covers the theoretical framework for
studying policy and politics, particularly in relation to government policy; the ways policies are formulated; the balance
of power between different stakeholders in the development of health services policies and decisions; how the health
and political systems manage issues; what facilitates or impedes the policy implementation and the influence of the
stakeholders and the media in the management of health services issues.

Assessment task 3: Assessment 3 – Analysis of a Policy

Intent: This assessment item focusses on analysing an Australian health policy.

Objective(s): This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D and F

A. Examine how government policy is formulated nationally and internationally within legal and ethical frameworks,and how globalisation impacts on policy;

B. Differentiate between the political ideologies that underpin the delivery of healthcare services;

C. Appraise the use of power in decision making in government and organisations;

D. Evaluate the impact of existing and emerging health policies in the management and planning of health services utilising a policy analysis framework;

F. Create a variety of ways in which complex issues can be effectively communicated for a variety of target audiences.