FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY IN HEALTHCARE PROVISION

By Robert K Otieno

Definition: Community functions in health care provision refer to the involvement of members of the community in strategic decisions about health services and policy at local/community level. Another spectrum of community functions range from professionals giving information to the community to a genuine hand-over of power and decision making to the locals

Functions: 1. The community functions as `advisors' to the health authorities who are responsible, for policy making of health care on behalf of their local populations. Empirical information from local communities gives their specific health needs that influence planning and budgeting for healthcare. Local suggestions may include the use of `focus groups' drawn from the local population, surveys, health forums and other interventions. 2. The community functions as the identifier of local deficiencies in health, social services and voluntary sector provision, together with associated issues of health policy and practice. 3. Under health cost-sharing programme, the community functions as contributor to its health welfare by providing financial support and even building hospitals and footing part of health bills. The community in this respect acts as recipient and provider of its own healthcare. Volunteers from within the community can function as paramedics and Community Health Workers (CHW) or as research assistants. In this case the community plays a pivotal function in health provision. Community functions to contribute to all kinds of health services and programs including hospitals, general practice services and preventative health programs. Health of the community, its vitality and sustainability is threatened if health services and programs are unavailable or inappropriate. Community members function as key stakeholders to identify and address community health problems, disseminate information and support the advocacy role of communities and health professionals.