Voluntary Health Insurance in Europe: Country Experience

Voluntary Health Insurance in Europe: Country Experience

Author: Sagan A.

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2016-07-20

Total Pages: 163

ISBN-13: 9289050373

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No two markets for voluntary health insurance (VHI) are identical. All differ in some way because they are heavily shaped by the nature and performance of publicly financed health systems and by the contexts in which they have evolved. This volume contains short structured profiles of markets for VHI in 34 countries in Europe. These are drawn from European Union member states plus Armenia Iceland Georgia Norway the Russian Federation Switzerland and Ukraine. The book is aimed at policy-makers and researchers interested in knowing more about how VHI works in practice in a wide range of contexts. Each profile written by one or more local experts identifies gaps in publicly-financed health coverage describes the role VHI plays outlines the way in which the market for VHI operates summarises public policy towards VHI including major developments over time and highlights national debates and challenges. The book is part of a study on VHI in Europe prepared jointly by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. A companion volume provides an analytical overview of VHI markets across the 34 countries.


Organization and Financing of Public Health Services in Europe

Organization and Financing of Public Health Services in Europe

Author: Centers of Disease Control

Publisher: World Health Organization

Published: 2018-06-29

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 9289051701

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What are public health services? Countries across Europe understand what they are or what they should include differently. This study describes the experiences of nine countries detailing the ways they have opted to organize and finance public health services and train and employ their public health workforce. It covers England France Germany Italy the Netherlands Slovenia Sweden Poland and the Republic of Moldova and aims to give insights into current practice that will support decision-makers in their efforts to strengthen public health capacities and services. Each country chapter captures the historical background of public health services and the context in which they operate; sets out the main organizational structures; assesses the sources of public health financing and how it is allocated; explains the training and employment of the public health workforce; and analyses existing frameworks for quality and performance assessment. The study reveals a wide range of experience and variation across Europe and clearly illustrates two fundamentally different approaches to public health services: integration with curative health services (as in Slovenia or Sweden) or organization and provision through a separate parallel structure (Republic of Moldova). The case studies explore the context that explain this divergence and its implications. This study is the result of close collaboration between the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the WHO Regional Office for Europe Division of Health Systems and Public Health. It accompanies two other Observatory publications Organization and financing of public health services in Europe and The role of public health organizations in addressing public health problems in Europe: the case of obesity alcohol and antimicrobial resistance (both forthcoming).


Healthy lives, healthy people

Healthy lives, healthy people

Author: Great Britain: Department of Health

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2010-11-30

Total Pages: 104

ISBN-13: 9780101798525

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The Government recognises that many lifestyle-driven health problems are at alarming levels: obesity; high rates of sexually transmitted infections; a relatively large population of drug users; rising levels of harm from alcohol; 80,000 deaths a year from smoking; poor mental health; health inequalities between rich and poor. This white paper outlines the Government's proposals to protect the population from serious health threats; help people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives; and improve the health of the poorest. It aims to empower individuals to make healthy choices and give communities and local government the freedom, responsibility and funding to innovate and develop ways of improving public health in their area. The paper responds to Sir Michael Marmot's strategic review of health inequalities in England post 2010 - "Fair society, healthy lives" (available at http://www.marmotreview.org/AssetLibrary/pdfs/Reports/FairSocietyHealthyLives.pdf) and adopts its life course framework for tackling the wider social determinants of health. A new dedicated public health service - Public Health England - will be created to ensure excellence, expertise and responsiveness, particularly on health protection where a national response is vital. The paper gives a timetable showing how the proposals will be implemented and an annex sets out a vision of the role of the Director of Public Health. The Department is also publishing a fuller story on the health of England in "Our health and wellbeing today" (http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_122238.pdf), detailing the challenges and opportunities, and in 2011 will issue documents on major public health issues.


High Quality Care for All

High Quality Care for All

Author: Secretary of State for Health

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 92

ISBN-13: 9780101743228

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This review incorporates the views and visions of 2,000 clinicians and other health and social care professionals from every NHS region in England, and has been developed in discussion with patients, carers and the general public. The changes proposed are locally-led, patient-centred and clinically driven. Chapter 2 identifies the challenges facing the NHS in the 21st century: ever higher expectations; demand driven by demographics as people live longer; health in an age of information and connectivity; the changing nature of disease; advances in treatment; a changing health workplace. Chapter 3 outlines the proposals to deliver high quality care for patients and the public, with an emphasis on helping people to stay healthy, empowering patients, providing the most effective treatments, and keeping patients as safe as possible in healthcare environments. The importance of quality in all aspects of the NHS is reinforced in chapter 4, and must be understood from the perspective of the patient's safety, experience in care received and the effectiveness of that care. Best practice will be widely promoted, with a central role for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in expanding national standards. This will bring clarity to the high standards expected and quality performance will be measured and published. The review outlines the need to put frontline staff in control of this drive for quality (chapter 5), with greater freedom to use their expertise and skill and decision-making to find innovative ways to improve care for patients. Clinical and managerial leadership skills at the local level need further development, and all levels of staff will receive support through education and training (chapter 6). The review recommends the introduction of an NHS Constitution (chapter 7). The final chapter sets out the means of implementation.


Commissioning Healthcare in England

Commissioning Healthcare in England

Author: Pauline Allen

Publisher: Policy Press

Published: 2020-03-25

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 1447346130

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This timely book is the most comprehensive account yet of recent commissioning practice in the English NHS and its impact on health services and the healthcare system. Drawing on eight years of research, expert researchers in the field analyse crucial aspects of commissioning, including competition and cooperation, the development of Clinical Commissioning Groups and contractual mechanisms. They also consider the influence of recent commissioning reforms on public health infrastructure. For academics and policy makers in health services research and policy, this is a valuable collection of evidence that deepens understanding of how commissioning works.


Health Policy

Health Policy

Author: Demetrius J. Porche

Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Learning

Published: 2017-12-22

Total Pages: 420

ISBN-13: 1284157520

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Health Policy: Application for Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals, Second Edition provides an overview of the policy making process within a variety of settings including academia, clinical practice, communities, and various health care systems.


Fairer care funding

Fairer care funding

Author: Commission on Funding of Care and Support

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2011-07-04

Total Pages: 86

ISBN-13: 9780108510847

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The independent Commission on Funding of Care and Support, set up by the Government last July, was asked to recommend a fair and sustainable funding system for adult social care in England. This report is the presentation of their findings. Recommendations put forward include: Individuals' lifetime contributions towards their social care costs - which are currently potentially unlimited - should be capped. After the cap is reached, individuals would be eligible for full state support. This cap should be between £25,000 and £50,000. The Commission considers that £35,000 is the most appropriate and fair figure; The means-tested threshold, above which people are liable for their full care costs, should be increased from £23,250 to £100,000; National eligibility criteria and portable assessments should be introduced to ensure greater consistency; and all those who enter adulthood with a care and support need should be eligible for free state support immediately rather than being subjected to a means test. The Commission estimates that its proposals - based on a cap of £35,000 - would cost the State around £1.7billion


Improving Healthcare Quality in Europe Characteristics, Effectiveness and Implementation of Different Strategies

Improving Healthcare Quality in Europe Characteristics, Effectiveness and Implementation of Different Strategies

Author: OECD

Publisher: OECD Publishing

Published: 2019-10-17

Total Pages: 447

ISBN-13: 9264805907

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This volume, developed by the Observatory together with OECD, provides an overall conceptual framework for understanding and applying strategies aimed at improving quality of care. Crucially, it summarizes available evidence on different quality strategies and provides recommendations for their implementation. This book is intended to help policy-makers to understand concepts of quality and to support them to evaluate single strategies and combinations of strategies.


In Search of the Perfect Health System

In Search of the Perfect Health System

Author: Mark Britnell

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2015-09-14

Total Pages: 246

ISBN-13: 1137496614

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A practical, succinct guide to the major health systems around the world and what lessons can be drawn from each about improving health worldwide. The essays are designed to give the reader essential knowledge of the history, strengths, weaknesses and lessons of each health system.


Equity and excellence:

Equity and excellence:

Author: Great Britain: Department of Health

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2010-07-12

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 9780101788120

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Equity and Excellence : Liberating the NHS: Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health by Command of Her Majesty