The Potential of Metropolitan Areas in Healthcare

Abstract

Metropolitan areas have a significant potential in the area of health care, accumulating capitals that, properly used, can contribute to improving population health. The aim of the study is to analyze the functional aspects of the health care system in the metropolitan area, with particular attention being paid to the tasks of public entities. The research method was a review of literature, reports, legal acts as well as an analysis and comparison of the infrastructural and human potentials of the health care system between the Śląskie Voivodeship and its metropolitan area. It provides a basis for thinking about the rational planning of public spending, the development of health policy strategies, as well as the management of the health system. It indicates potential directions of development that can lead to a more effective and adequate to health needs allocation of financial and organizational resources. The current view of the form and tasks of metropolitan areas should be redefined by strengthening their role in the health system. Such a solution is the realization of the vision of cooperation of the cities forming a metropolis as a functional and cooperative system instead of a competing one. This is because metropolises are areas where it is possible to realize a different formula for the organization and management of health care than in the rest of the country. This is due to the materialization of the idea of flexible management with the use of modern communication techniques, knowledge transfer and high specialization, based on the existing communication network, infrastructure and saturation of human capital, including medical professionals.