Role of Health Services Support in the Theater Security Cooperation Plan: Do We Have It Right

摘要

There are numerous elements that contribute to the Theater Security Cooperation Plan (TSCP). Among the tools available to the Combatant Commander are Humanitarian Assistance and Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA). Within HCA, medical services have been employed, chiefly as either Medical Civic Assistance Programs or as Medical Readiness Training Exercises. The role of Health Services Support in the TSCP is examined and an assessment of its effectiveness is discussed. It is concluded that while HSS is a valid component of the TSCP, long-term health benefits rarely result for the served population. Long-term health benefits would have a greater potential for being realized if Non- Governmental Organizations and Private Volunteer Organizations were engaged in the process. Health Services Support is often employed as a tool for winning the hearts and minds of a population, however, the people of that population would be served better medically if the local health system infrastructure were improved, which would produce greater long-term health effects and would result in maintaining a healthier population.