Physicians and patients are the two main groups affected by this issue. The physicians are the ones who diagnose and treat medical conditions, so they must have adequate resources to deliver quality care. As patients rely heavily on doctors to provide advice, any changes in health policy or treatment could have an impact on them.
Indirectly, several parties can also be affected. These include insurance companies because of the higher cost associated with coverage. Pharmaceutical companies may gain from developing new drugs. And government officials must balance economics and ethics when making decisions about healthcare reform.
In addition, educational institutions may be affected if the demand for medical professionals increases as a consequence of changes. This could result in increased competition for students to apply to programs in health sciences. In order to ensure all parties are adequately supported, modifications to this subject should take these different factors into consideration.