Page 79 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

that is to promote the health of city zones, inducing society to a radical change of conventional

paradigms.

But, in any case, and for whatever solution is adopted, the freedom of choice and consumption of

adult persons should be respected provided they are fully informed of the harm caused by their
choices.

The implementation of a social policy with objectives of this nature goes beyond the competence
of the government, thus requiring the active participation of the various associated social sectors.

This is the assumption that only true cross-sector collaboration will permit achieving well-being,

quality of life, and, therefore, health.

It is important to keep in mind that the concept of health is not just the absence of disease itself

but a holistic circumstance in which a person feels well, fit, able, and not limited by discomfort or
disability.

The goals of health policy have not always been the same but, rather, change in response to

economic, political, and social factors.

Therefore, three major periods can be defined.

In the second half of the 19th century when, in many developed countries, universal access to

healthcare became a political objective, policy goals centered on structuring and organizing health

units. Later, after World War II, the goals were essentially financial in nature and sought to increase
the efficiency of the provision of health services (Williams 1994).

Thus, the major objectives were minimizing health expenditures and controlling supplies through

an efficient resource allocation policy (Harris 1998).

Currently, in addition to these goals, health policy goals place special emphasis on the

determination and control of risk factors and social determinants of health.

76 Academic Year 2025/2026