HEALTH SERVICES

If you ask most people what keeps them healthy, the first thing they often say is health care services, especially treatment for illness or injury. But treatment is only one type of health care service. Other important health services are those that promote and maintain health, such as prenatal classes and Well Baby clinics, and those that prevent disease, such as immunization and regular check-ups. Although health services are important, they only contribute about 25% to overall health.

What can you do?

Think about the importance of the health system to your health and then ask:

• Do I expect the health system to "make" me healthy?
• What can I do to use the health system more effectively?

Think about the services that promote, maintain and restore health for people in your community and then ask:

• What services (health care or otherwise) do people in our community need to be healthy?
• How can we provide the services that people need to be healthy?