About this Book

This volume examines the public/private sector mix in a variety of national healthcare systems and their interface with the goals of health equity and quality of healthcare. By examining the mix of public and private sector funding of healthcare services as well as the mix of public and private sector delivery of healthcare services in various national contexts, the authors will address the question of how various national systems are affected with respect to their ability, or the lack thereof, to achieve goals of health equity and quality of healthcare in an efficient manner. The significance of this collection of national studies involving the public/private sector mix is that it will provide insights into the factors that enhance the public/private sector mix in fulfilling the goals of health equity and the quality of healthcare services as well as an understanding of the circumstances in which elements of the public/private sector mix may be harmful for the achievement of such goals. This volume will examine these issues as they have arisen in the United States, France, The Netherlands, Sweden, The Russian Federation, Italy, Brazil, Uruguay, and Japan. An additional set of three comparative chapters will examine two or more nations, collectively in Canada, Israel, Australia, Germany, The United Kingdom, Chile and Mexico.