Health care, or healthcare, refers to the improvement of health through the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. Health care is delivered by health professionals and allied health fields, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, midwifery, nursing, optometry, audiology, psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, athletic training, and other health professions. It includes work done in providing primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, as well as in public health. Access to healthcare may vary across countries, communities, and individuals, influenced by social and economic conditions as well as health policies.

Health care extends beyond the delivery of services to patients, encompassing many related sectors, and is set within a bigger picture of financing and governance structures. A health system, also sometimes referred to as a health care system or healthcare system, is the organization of people, institutions, and resources that deliver health care services to populations in need. The management and administration of health care is vital to the delivery of health care services.

High-quality health care helps prevent diseases and improve quality of life. Healthy People 2030 focuses on improving health care quality and making sure all people get the health care services they need. Strategies to make sure health care providers are aware of treatment guidelines and recommended services are also key to improving health. Some people don’t get the health care services they need because they don’t have health insurance or live too far away from providers who offer them. Interventions to increase access to health care services, like lowering costs, improving insurance coverage, and increasing use of telehealth, can help more people get the care they need.

In summary, health care refers to the improvement of health through the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people. It is delivered by health professionals and allied health fields, and includes work done in providing primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, as well as in public health. Access to healthcare may vary across countries, communities, and individuals, influenced by social and economic conditions as well as health policies.