Book Review: The Australian health care system

THIS IS THE THIRD edition of one of the seminal local texts on the Australian health care system. Over the last seven years, this text has proved a basis for helping students, casual readers and health professionals understand Australia?s sometimes difficult to understand health care system. The text is divided into ten chapters that deal with key aspects of Australia?s health care system, namely: � Frameworks for analysis � The Australian population and its health � Financing health care � The health workforce � Departmental and intergovernmental structures � Hospitals � Public health � Primary and community care � Pharmaceuticals � Policy challenges for the Australian health care system. There are several key reasons why this text has been widely used in the past and will continue to be of value well into the future. The author has been able to accurately describe the complexities of the Australian health care system in an easily digestible way. This is a feat in itself and worthy of praise. There is an appropriate use of tables and figures to support the written content. Finally, the author provides excellent conclusions that bring together the salient points and issues in each chapter. The publisher promotes that this edition includes new material on health workforce, patient safety and medical and health insurance. The Australian health care system delivers on this claim, providing useful insights and a deeper understanding of the issues that confront the future direction and delivery of health services in this country. This text is a useful addition to any library as well as a staple for students needing to more clearly understand the complexities and challenges of the Australian health care system. My only suggestion is that the text could have been enhanced by the inclusion of revision or reflective questions at the end of each chapter. In summary, a must-have as part of a good health-related library.