Access
"Access" to health care is affected by the presence or absence of barriers, including:
- Physical barriers: those related to the general supply of, availability of, and distance to health services.
- Economic or financial barriers: those related to the cost of seeking and obtaining health care, in relation to a patient's or a household's income. An increase in the price of drugs or treatment may reduce access to health care for individuals in that household. Financial barriers also include indirect costs such as transport, time away from work, and childcare costs. Government policies on health financing influence the impact of financial barriers.
- Cultural barriers - those related to social or community perceptions of health services, for example perceived or actual discrimination on the part of health care providers, and language barriers.
See also: