Health care or healthcare is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services offered by the medical, nursing, and allied health professions.

The healthcare industry is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing industries, consuming over 10 percent of gross domestic product of most developed nations.

Prior to the popularisation of the neologism healthcare, English-speakers referred to medicine or to the health sector and spoke of the treatment and prevention of illness and disease.

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