Health Institutes and Voluntary Health Work

Abstract

Health institutes and voluntary agencies are important for better health care. This chapter discusses the prehistory, definition and idea behind an institute, its types as trusts and ownerships, its characteristics, and its power, people, performance expanse, service, responsibility of teaching, transparency with money and optimization of working institutional mindset to be the standard bearer for high-complexity care.

Voluntary agencies, their perspective on health care, their journey, and their psyche and characteristics generally and within primary health care, limitations of thinking, and negative elements therein are discussed. Second-level hospital–oriented VAs within the market economy and newer work models are also discussed. Continued government neglect of non-Christian voluntary medical work organizations, their government funding and proselytization associated with them is reviewed. Sociopolitical voluntarism of left of centre, Gandhian–Sarvodaya and right-wing organizations, the unsatisfactory government and voluntary agency collaboration, and the paper VAs with an unhealthy influence in the voluntary sector is discussed.