Health Systems

Good health, responsiveness to the expectations of the population, and fairness in financial contributions are the three major goals of a health system. Globalization, the advent of advanced technologies, and the increasing power of multinational corporations pose unprecedented health care challenges at the local and global levels. Health systems worldwide need to be sensitive and responsive to a changing population and societal needs, necessitating reform through a sustained and integrative process among different policy sectors that requires input from different disciplines.

This book is a significant contribution to discussions about the major challenges to reforming health systems in Asia. It compares different Western models of delivering and financing health care from a multidisciplinary perspective in different Asia-Pacific countries. Academics, health care professionals, policy makers, and the general public can gain a better understanding of these policy challenges that are crucial to evidence-based planning, prioritization/rationing, and the implementation of reforms in the future.