What encompasses actions and decisions to guide healthcare goals within a society?

The correct choice is health policy, which refers to the decisions and actions taken to achieve specific healthcare goals within a society. Health policy is critical as it establishes guidelines and regulations that govern how healthcare is provided, financed, and accessed. It involves creating frameworks for healthcare delivery, setting priorities, allocating resources, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare services for different populations.

In addition, health policy encompasses a wide range of areas including preventive care, public health initiatives, and overall health system governance. It plays a vital role in shaping the future of healthcare by addressing challenges such as access, quality of care, patient safety, and public health outcomes.

Healthcare management, while related, focuses more on the day-to-day operations and administrative functions of healthcare organizations, such as hospitals and clinics, rather than the broader societal goals. Healthcare ethics refers to the moral principles that guide decision-making in the healthcare field, focusing on issues like patient rights and the ethical implications of clinical practices. Clinical governance ensures quality care and accountability in healthcare delivery but does not encompass the comprehensive actions and decisions needed to shape healthcare goals at the societal level.