Publisher's Synopsis
This new series aims to bring to a wider public selected monographs and documents published as part of the journal Health Policy.;Volume 1 provides an overview of the differences in health care coverage and delivery in the twelve European Community member states. Health is an essential aspect of the social dimension. The convergence of health in Europe does not necessarily mean harmonization of health care systems. There are various policy options for the future and this study is a first step towards discussing such options and defining the possible role of the Commission of the European Communities in achieving them. Not only does the coverage of health care services differ but also the availability and delivery of services, the costs per head and the public/private funding mix. While some National Health Service Systems do not leave room for complementary health insurances, in other EC-member countries, private non-profit and for-profit health insurances play a major role. The variety of services and regulations may lead to distortions in equal opportunitites to build human capital in the area of health care. Further, additional occupational opportunities are provided by the freedom to choose services, while the availability of different services may affect patient flows.
