Modernization, Globalization, Trends, and Convergence in Health Expenditure in Latin America and the Caribbean

Are health care systems converging in developing nations? We use the case of health care financing in Latin America between 1995 and 2009 to assess the predictions of modernization theory, competing strands of globalization theory, and accounts of persistent cross-national differences. As predicted by modernization theory, we find convergence in overall health spending. The public share of health spending increased over this time period, with no convergence in the public-private mix. The findings indicate robust heterogeneity of national health care systems and suggest that globalization fosters human investment health policies rather than neoliberal, “race to the bottom” cutbacks in public health expenditures.

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Public-private mix and performance of health care systems in CEE and CIS countries

Oeconomia Copernicana ◽

10.12775/oec.2016.011 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 169 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Błażej Łyszczarz

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Private Sector ◽

Health Systems ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Public Financing ◽

The Public ◽

Care Systems ◽

Cis Countries ◽

Public Private Mix

The role of the public and private sector in health care systems remains one of the crucial problems of these systems' operation. The purpose of this research is to identify the relationships between the performance of health systems in CEE and CIS (Central and Eastern Europe and Commonwealth of Independent State) countries, and the mix of public-private sector in the health care of these countries. The study uses a zero unitarization method to construct three measures of health system performance in the following areas: (1) resources; (2) services; and (3) health status. The values of these measures are correlated with the share of public financing that represents the public-private mix in the health systems. The data used is from World Health Organization’s Health for All Database for 23 CEE and CIS countries and comprises the year 2010. The results show that the performance of health systems in the countries investigated is positively associated with a higher proportion of public financing. The strongest relationship links public financing with performance in the area of services production. For policy makers, these results imply that health systems in post-communist transition economies could be susceptible to a decreasing role of the state and that growing reliance on the market mechanism in health care can deteriorate the operation of these systems.

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Health Care

10.1093/oso/9780198817055.003.0011 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Pierre Pestieau ◽

Mathieu Lefebvre

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Technological Progress ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Third Party ◽

Medical Expenditure ◽

Public Health Care ◽

The Public ◽

Common Features ◽

Care Systems

This chapter reviews the public health care systems as well as their challenges. It first shows how expenditure on health care has evolved in previous decades and deals with the reasons for the growth observed in almost every European country. It emphasizes the role of technological progress as a main explanatory factor of the increase in medical expenditure but also points to the challenges facing cost-containment policies. Especially, the main common features of health care systems in Europe, such as third-party payment, single provider approach and cost-based reimbursement are discussed. Finally the chapter shows that although inequalities in health exist in the population, health care systems are redistributive. Reforms are thus needed but the trade-off between budgetary efficiency and equity is difficult.

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COVID-19, psychosocial issues, politics, and public mental health care

South African Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1177/00812463211015750 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 293-303

Author(s):

Anthony L Pillay ◽

Anne L Kramers-Olen

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

South Africa ◽

Health Care ◽

Mental Health Care ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Mental Health Policy ◽

Public Mental Health ◽

The Public ◽

Care Systems ◽

Public Mental Health Care

The COVID-19 pandemic heralded challenges that were both significant and unfamiliar, placing inordinate burdens on health care systems, economies, and the collective psyche of citizens. The pandemic underscored the tenuous intersections between public mental health care, politics, economics, and psychosocial capital. In South Africa, the inadequacies of the public health system have been laid bare, and the disproportionate privileges of the private health care system exposed. This article critically considers government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychosocial correlates of lockdown, politics, corruption, and public mental health policy in South Africa.

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Accountability for Rationing — Theory into Practice

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1111/j.1748-720x.2005.tb00534.x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 33 (4) ◽

pp. 660-668 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Christopher Newdick

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

National Health Service ◽

Health Service ◽

National Health ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

The Public ◽

Modern Health Care ◽

Concept Of Health ◽

Care Systems ◽

Health Need

Most now recognize the inevitability of rationing in modern health care systems. The elastic nature of the concept of “health need,” our natural human sympathy for those in distress, the increased range of conditions for which treatment is available, the “greying” of the population; all expand demand for care in ways that exceed the supply of resources to provide it. UK governments, however, have found this truth difficult to present and have not encouraged open and candid public debate about choices in health care. Indeed, successive governments have presented the opposite view, that “if you are ill or injured there will be a national health service there to help; and access to it will be based on need and need alone.” And they have been rightly criticized for misleading the public and then blaming clinical and managerial staffin the National Health Service (NHS) when expectations have been disappointed.

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Back to the Future: Principles on Resuming Outpatient Services in the COVID-19 Era

Otolaryngology ◽

10.1177/0194599820933597 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 163 (4) ◽

pp. 705-706 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Taher S. Valika ◽

Kathleen R. Billings

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Outpatient Care ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Outpatient Services ◽

Drastic Reduction ◽

The Public ◽

Outpatient Visits ◽

The Future ◽

Care Systems

The rapidly changing health care climate related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in numerous changes to health care systems and in practices that protect both the public and the workers who serve in hospitals around the country. As a result, these past few months have seen a drastic reduction in outpatient visits. With phased reopening and appropriate guidance, health care systems are attempting to return to normal. The experiences and lessons learned are described, and we provide guiding principles to allow for a safe and effective return to outpatient care.

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Return to Normalcy? Principles on Resuming Surgical Services in the COVID-19 Era

OTO Open ◽

10.1177/2473974x20936658 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 2473974X2093665

Author(s):

Taher S. Valika ◽

Kathleen R. Billings

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Patient Care ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Drastic Reduction ◽

The Public ◽

Surgical Services ◽

Outpatient Visits ◽

Care Systems ◽

Full Capacity

The rapidly changing health care climate related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in numerous changes to health care systems and in practices that protect both the public and the workers who serve in hospitals around the country. As a result, these past few months have seen a drastic reduction in outpatient visits and surgical volumes. With phased reopening and appropriate guidance, health care systems are attempting to return to normal. Our institution has had the unique opportunity to already return operations back to full capacity. The experiences and lessons learned are described, and we provide guiding principles to allow for a safe and effective return to patient care.

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Involving citizens in disinvestment decisions: what do health professionals think? Findings from a multi-method study in the English NHS

Health Economics Policy and Law ◽

10.1017/s1744133117000330 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 162-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Tom Daniels ◽

Iestyn Williams ◽

Stirling Bryan ◽

Craig Mitton ◽

Suzanne Robinson

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Decision Making ◽

Public Involvement ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Future Research ◽

Local Health ◽

The Public ◽

Health Care Leaders ◽

Local Health Care ◽

Care Systems

AbstractPublic involvement in disinvestment decision making in health care is widely advocated, and in some cases legally mandated. However, attempts to involve the public in other areas of health policy have been accused of tokenism and manipulation. This paper presents research into the views of local health care leaders in the English National Health Service (NHS) with regards to the involvement of citizens and local communities in disinvestment decision making. The research includes a Q study and follow-up interviews with a sample of health care clinicians and managers in senior roles in the English NHS. It finds that whilst initial responses suggest high levels of support for public involvement, further probing of attitudes and experiences shows higher levels of ambivalence and risk aversion and a far more cautious overall stance. This study has implications for the future of disinvestment activities and public involvement in health care systems faced with increased resource constraint. Recommendations are made for future research and practice.

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Countering Moral Hazard in Public and Private Health Care Systems: A Review of Recent Evidence

Journal of Social Policy ◽

10.1017/s0047279400017438 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 235-251 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Cam Donaldson ◽

Karen Gerard

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Services ◽

Moral Hazard ◽

Financial Incentives ◽

Care Delivery ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Health Care Financing ◽

General Effect ◽

Health Maintenance ◽

Care Systems

ABSTRACTWithin both publicly and privately financed health care Systems different funding mechanisms have evolved, or have been proposed, to deal with the problem of ‘moral hazard’. Moral hazard arises when financial incentives within the health care System lead to either inefficient demands for care by consumers or inefficient supply of care by providers. In this paper the problem of moral hazard is outlined in more detail, and different ways of countering moral hazard are reviewed in terms of three criteria: effect on patient utilisation of health services in general; effect on utilisation by different groups of patients; and effect on health status. It is concluded that evidence on different methods of funding health services can only be judged in the context of objectives. If the objectives of health care delivery are ‘maintenance or improvement of health’ and ‘equal access for equal need’ then charges and finance of care through health maintenance organisations both appear to be less favourable than ‘free’ care at the point of delivery whilst the latter is not necessarily more costly as a resuit. Research on other suggested alternatives is required, otherwise radical changes to health care financing in the UK will simply result in movement from one unproven system to another.

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