Health care , or healthcare , is the improvement or maintenance of
health via 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.
Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, midwifery, nursing, optometry, audiology,
psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, athletic training, and
other health professions all constitute health care. The term includes work
done in providing primary care, secondary care, tertiary care, and public
health.
Access to health care may vary across countries, communities, and individuals,
influenced by social and economic conditions and health policies.