Decentralized forms of government are becoming more common in Western European
countries. The effects of decentralization of public health services are explored in this article …

Among the key questions raised in this chapter regarding decentralization are: what powers
are decentralized and to whom are these powers decentralized? Following on from these …

The health care systems of the Nordic countries share basic features with the National
Health Service (NHS) models in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and southern Europe …

In the Nordic countries, health care is an integral part of what is often termed the
Scandinavian (or Nordic) model of the welfare state (Esping-Andersen 1990). Thus, health …

The most appropriate decentralization of policymaking powers is an important unresolved
policy question for most health systems. At one extreme lies the UK National Health Service …

There is no doubt that the Czech health sector offers a higher quality of care now than it did
ten years ago. The system is equitable, ensuring access to comprehensive care for the …

A major shift appears to be underway in Europe in the relationship between national,
regional, and local control over health sector decision-making. Since World War II, a central …

Decentralization is a central plank of many health sector reforms. It is believed to be an
effective means to stimulate improvements in the delivery of services, to secure better …

Decentralization has held an honoured place in the strategic thinking of European health
policy-makers for many years. It has been an integral part of social health insurance systems …

The health care system in Sweden has been undergoing radical change since 1991. The
mainly public financed (90%) system with 26 autonomous counties spent 8.5% of its gross …