ABSTRACT
In recent times, health and healthcare services have become subjects discussed from a global perspective, hence the invasion of the term “globalisation” in medical science. Since the discovery of the germs theory, much has become known about the spread of diseases across cultures and continents. Medical science, in respect of technologies for disease diagnosis (radiography and ultrasound scan) and treatments (chemotherapy, radiologic and biological transplants), has evolved rapidly around the world. The literature has also documented several socially constructed key developments in healthcare. Nevertheless, there are many more societies in Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia facing serious health challenges as a result of their geographical locations, cultural values and practices, religion, and moral and ethical beliefs. Other factors that influence healthcare include economic situations and legal practices in these different social systems. Irrespective of the social norms and cultural nuisances in a society, health professionals are expected to show cultural sensitivity in order to deliver culturally competent care to patients of all backgrounds. These suggest the increasing need to understand societies in the context of health and healthcare behaviours. This chapter presents an integrated perspective on topics such as the emergence of healthcare as an institution; globalisation; the influence of economic factors on healthcare services; the influence of technological factors on healthcare services; the influence of competitive factors on healthcare services; the cultural revolution and healthcare; the changing societal context; the consumerist customer in healthcare; and key healthcare developments.
