Finance, predominantly comes from insurance schemes, general taxation, or a combination of both. Individuals might assume that they have no control over such expenditure. However, we all have responsibility for our own particular behaviour and lifestyle, that has such a large influence on health issues and costs.

The best way to stay healthy is to look after yourself, whilst being aware that health care is readily available, if problems should arise. To some extent, this depends on your circumstances, at birth. There are social and genetic considerations. Children may be born into poor conditions, where health can be affected, by poverty and deprivation. A child from any background could be susceptible to inheriting a predisposition to particular afflictions. Fortunately, health care has continuously progressed, and high quality professional services, including paediatrics, are available.

Responsible parenting is vital to children's development, and at its best will cultivate a lifelong interest in keeping fit. Even caring parents may, unwittingly, misguide their offspring. For instance, they may have innocently become television addicts, and require their children to sit quietly whilst they watch the nightly episodes. Some will be more ?generous?, and buy televisions for their kids to use in their own bedrooms. ?Onerous? might be a better word, because more time, spent in outdoor pursuits, would be healthier for all. Of course, television is not all bad, but smoking is!

The health hazards of smoking are well proven. Parents who smoke set a bad example. If they smoke at home they are not only going to shorten their own lives, but also expose their children to debilitating diseases. So, if you smoke the best health care for you is to stop - Now.

Healthy eating is vital to our existence and what a pleasure good food and drink is. There are more, and more, public service advertisements, recommending five fruits or vegetables per day. There is a wonderful choice to be had, at generally reasonable prices. Unfortunately, there are as many advertisements, for ?junk? food, with numerous additives and flavourings. Choose natural food and a good source of water; that from the tap is usually OK. Combine this, with your outdoor pursuits, and your family is well on its way to a healthy existence.

So, all these services costing trillions of dollars and billions of pounds, or rupees or yen or whatever, are thankfully there if you need them. If you look after yourself, you are less likely to need them, and may even consider that you are better off ? not getting your money's worth!