Researching transformations in healthcare services and policy in international perspective: An introduction

Abstract

Across countries healthcare systems face new pressures for change towards more cost-effective and sustainable health services for all citizens. In recent years health policy-makers have responded to these challenges mainly by introducing or reinforcing market mechanisms and by expanding managerial controls. This is leading to major transformations in health policy and, subsequently, to the organization and delivery of healthcare services. This collection brings an international perspective to the research on contemporary transformations in health policy and services, by focusing on countries as wide-ranging as the US and Western and Eastern European countries, to Japan, China and Australia and by addressing different healthcare sectors from hospital to home care. Together these international experiences help us to better understand both the risks of social inequality embedded in new health policies and the opportunities of mobilizing new resources towards better healthcare for all citizens.