Healthcare is a broad term used to describe a number of different public and privately funded medical and alternative health treatments. Every nation on Earth has a healthcare system, although the nature of these systems can differ greatly depending on the funds available and the political and cultural makeup of the country. While industrialised countries may differ with regard to how their health systems are funded, they all generally include the following services - which are accessible to all of the citizens or residents of a particular country.
General Practitioners (GPs) offer some of the most widely used services in any health system, offering primary treatments and referrals to specialised medical services. Nations vary widely relating to how they fund their GPs, with free tax funded systems and totally private systems being the two ends of the spectrum. General Practitioners can often be found at health centres and medical clinics, as can many other health related services. Health centres often perform the kinds of treatment which are not serious or invasive enough to require a hospital visit, such as vaccinations, wound dressings, and infant check-ups.
Hospitals are the backbone to many healthcare systems, providing services that require specialised equipment and staff - such as surgery, psychiatric care, and accident and emergency departments. Some countries like the United Kingdom and Australia have generally free hospital services, while other nations such as the United States of America have a fully or partially private system. Hospitals are a vital part of any healthcare system, and are often located in residential areas close to most of the population. Ambulances are another important part of health services, providing transportation to hospitals for people who are in need.
Other aspects to a healthcare system may include dentistry, pharmacies, prescription services, and informational websites. Countries are often judged by their standard of living, and the availability and quality of a health care system is one of the key factors that makes up this standard. While the global situation is too complex to pick any one system that is best - healthcare is of great concern to everyone, no matter where on the Earth they happen to reside.