Publisher Description

Winner of the first prize in the Health and Social Care category at the BMA Medical Book Awards 2016.With chapters on 25 different countries, this practical and succinct guide to the world's major health systems explores what lessons can be drawn from each to improve health worldwide. Each chapter is an essay designed to give the reader essential knowledge of the history, strengths, weaknesses and lessons of each health system and provide a truly global health perspective – all in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.Whether a healthcare manager or a student studying health systems, this accessible and engaging book provides a fascinating insight in to how health care is delivered around the world.

Back Cover

Have you ever imagined what a truly great health system could look like? In Search of the Perfect Health System provides the answers. Over the past six years, Mark Britnell has worked in 60 countries - covering eight-tenths of the world's GDP - with hundreds of government, public and private healthcare organisations. He has circumnavigated the planet 70 times over and offers unique perspectives on countries and the tectonic global forces at play. Mark infuses his writing with his own humanity and personal struggle with cancer and has all the heart and passion of a healthcare professional combined with the head of a person who leads a successful global health practice. As we all have busy lives, each essay and chapter can be read in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. It's quite possible to read this book in a day and gain a truly global health perspective.

Author Biography

Mark Britnell is Chairman and Partner of the Global Health Practice at KPMG in the UK and leads their Global Center of Excellence.Mark masterminded the largest single new hospital building in the history of the NHS and helped develop the NHS Plan – a ten year plan for investment and reform. He speaks and writes regularly on international health affairs and the NHS and has consistently been voted one of the most influential people in the industry.

Table of Contents

1. The Perfect Health SystemCountry profilesPart 1: Asia and Australia2. Japan – Live long and prosper3. South Korea – National pride and global ambition4. China – Communist chimera?5. Hong Kong – Demography, democracy and destiny6. Malaysia – Reform some time, soon?7. Singapore – Wealth and health8. Indonesia – Largest single payer in the world9. Australia – Advance Australia Fair10. India – One country, two worldsPart 2: Middle East and Africa11 Qatar – Build and they will come12 Israel – The best kept secret in global health?13 South Africa – No more false dawnsPart 3: Europe14. Russia – A distressed and distressing system15. The Nordics – Decentralised welfare utopia?16. The Netherlands – Competition and social solidarity17. Germany – Doctor knows best18. Switzerland – You get what you pay for19. Italy – No longer 'la dolce vita'20. Portugal – The price of austerity21. France – Neither Beveridge nor Bismarck but the Republic22. England – The NHS. In place of fearPart 4: The Americas23 Canada – At the crossroads24 The US – Let's face the music and dance25 Mexico – Unfinished business26 Brazil – Order and progress?Part 5: Global Challenges27. Universal Healthcare – Triumph of political will28. Same Problem, Different Country – The paradox of change29. Clinical Quality – The more I know, the less I sleep30. Value Walks – There is no healthcare without the workforce31. Patients As Partners – Renewable energy32. Climate Change and Sustainability – Our dirty little secret33. Ageing – Every cloud has a silver liningPart 6: Conclusion34 Conclusion – We wouldn't start from hereKey Statistics at a Glance

Review

'Read this book if you want to know what works and doesn't work in healthcare!' - Wouter Bos, Chairman of VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam 'This is an excellent book for understanding best practices of healthcare systems around the world. Practitioners and students should read it!.' Professor Ling Li - Senior Advisor to Chinese Health Minister and Chair of the China Centre for Health Development, Peking University 'This book is vital reading for every clinical leader. The challenges of leading today require looking beyond boundaries to see the bright spots from systems across the world.' - Maureen Bisognano, CEO of Institute Healthcare Improvement, USA 'Clearly demonstrates that developing and developed countries alike all have something to teach and learn' - Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman of the Apollo Hospitals Group in India 'Intelligible, quick reads are hard to come by in healthcare services. But that is what is delivered by Mark Britnell, Global Chairman and Senior Partner for Health at consultancy KPMG... The book is a great, level-headed summary of where we are today.' Healthcare Business International 'The book describes health care systems across the globe. It makes the point that no country has the perfect solution and it invites the reader to consider how countries as disparate as Indonesia and Switzerland have developed solutions to the bespoke challenges in their respective countries. It is beautifully written and as the fly note says, each chapter can be read in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.' Dr Peter Carter OBE

Promotional

With chapters on 25 different countries, this practical and succinct guide to the world's major health systems explores what lessons can be drawn from each to improve health worldwide.

Long Description

Have you ever imagined what a truly great health system could look like? In Search of the Perfect Health System provides the answers. Over the past six years, Mark Britnell has worked in 60 countries - covering eight-tenths of the world's GDP - with hundreds of government, public and private healthcare organisations. He has circumnavigated the planet 70 times over and offers unique perspectives on countries and the tectonic global forces at play. Mark infuses his writing with his own humanity and personal struggle with cancer and has all the heart and passion of a healthcare professional combined with the head of a person who leads a successful global health practice. As we all have busy lives, each essay and chapter can be read in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. It's quite possible to read this book in a day and gain a truly global health perspective.

Review Quote

'Read this book if you want to know what works and doesn't work in healthcare!' - Wouter Bos, Chairman of VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam

Promotional "Headline"

With chapters on 25 different countries, this practical and succinct guide to the world's major health systems explores what lessons can be drawn from each to improve health worldwide.

Description for Bookstore

This book is a practical, succinct guide to the major health systems around the world and what lessons can be drawn from each about improving health worldwide

Details