The politics of health in Europe

Book abstract:

This book concerns the politics of publicly provided health care. It is a general, comparative study of health policy and politics and focuses on France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the UK, chosen because, between them, they are indicative of particular sets of problems in the politics of health and health care.

The author begins by identifying differences in arrangements for the finance, delivery and regulation of health care in these countries, explaining how health systems are to be understood as political entities. He describes and accounts for the evolution of state intervention in the health care sector before comparing and contrasting different kinds of system. He examines recent changes in the organisation of health care as well as recent challenges to public health, including policy responses to AIDS. Each chapter develops factual comparison and contrast in the context of key ideas in social and political theory.

This book will be of interest to advanced students of politics, sociology and social policy, to specialists in health policy, medical sociology and health economics, and to those with professional responsibilities for health care organisation and management.

Richard Freeman is Lecturer in Politics at the University of Edinburgh.