"The book is very valuable as actual information about the health systems in the Nordic countries and the changes that have been made during the last two decades. It informs well both about the similarities within the 'Nordic Health Model' and the important differences that exist between the countries." Bo Könberg, County Governor, Former Minister of Health and Social Insurance in Sweden (1991-94) "This book is a rich, interesting and very useful document. I have been looking, for example, today for precise information on political governing which is not displayed anywhere else. It will be of importance in many aspects!" Johan Calltorp MD PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management, The Nordic School of Public Health, Gotenburg "The publishing of this book about the Nordic health care systems is a major event for those interested not only in Nordic health policy and health systems but also for everybody interested in comparative health policy and health systems. It is the first book in its kind. It covers the four 'large' Nordic countries, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, and does so in a very systematically comparative way. The book is well organized, covers 'everything' and is analytically sophisticated." Ole Berg, nstitute of Health Management and health economics, University of Oslo, Norway This book examines recent patterns of health reform in Nordic health care systems, and the balance between stability and change in how these systems have developed. The health systems in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland are investigated through detailed comparisons along a variety of policy-driven parameters. The following themes are explored: Politicians, patients, and professions Financing, production, and distribution The role of the primary health sector The role of public health Internal management mechanisms Impact of the European Union The book probes the impact of these topics and then contrasts the development across all four, allowing the reader to gain a sense of perspective both on the individual countries as well as on the region as a whole. The editors also explore the extent to which a Nordic Health Care Model exists, and the degree to which that model will continue to help explain the future direction of health policy-making in these four countries. An additional chapter on recent developments in Iceland completes the work. Contributors: Tinna L. Ásgeirsdóttir, Paula Blomquist, Johan Calltorp, Terje P. Hagen, Unto Häkkinen, Peter K. Jespersen, Pia M. Jonsson, Lars Erik Kjekshus, Allan Krasnik, Meri Larivaara, Juhani Lehto, Kalevi Luoma, Jon Magnussen, Dorte S. Martinsen, Pål E. Martinussen, Bård Paulsen, Clas Rehnberg, Ånen Ringard, Richard B. Saltman, Signild Vallgårda, Karsten Vrangbæk, Ulrika Winblad, Sirpa Wrede.

The public health systems of the Nordic countries were established to provide care equitably to those in need, not to provide responsive consumer services. These systems are now at a crossroads. This report draws attention to the changes in and expansion of the private sector. It presents facts about financing and provision, and an analysis of the changes, their causes and consequences. The report concludes that Nordic citizens and governments need the private health sector, for a variety of reasons.

The Nordic countries have reached a stage where the national level of development in the use of IT applications has extended to a Nordic level. This is partly a result of the Collaborative Net-work of Nordic eHealth Competence Centres, a voluntary group for experience exchange and common activities regarding ICT in healthcare. However, this Nordic co-operation needs to be strengthened and more structured, with the appropriate re-sources, legal foundation, skills and capacity, to further develop and exploit common solutions. This report is the result of a study carried out on request of the Nordic Council of Ministers, by Ministers for Social Affairs and Health. It has been carried out by the partners of the Collabora-tive Network of Nordic eHealth Competence Centres (Med-Com/Denmark, KITH/Norway, STAKES/Finland, Ministry of Health/Iceland, and Carelink/Sweden). The report describes the use of IT in health care and social services in the Nordic coun-tries. The purpose of the study is to enhance the opportunity for the Nordic countries to learn from each other and to co-operate in a larger extent.

Examines patterns of health reform in Nordic health care systems, and the balance between stability and change in how these systems have developed. This book investigates the health systems in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland through comparisons along a variety of policy-driven parameters.

NOMESKO nr. 27

The book includes contributions from all five Nordic countries, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. We see as the objective of the book to provide its audience with the information which makes it possible for professionals and decision makers at the policy level to get a better insight for assessing the Nordic way of going about the financing and organisation of the health services. For each country we have tried to provide the reader with a status quo description supplemented by new initiatives assessed by economists working in the health services in the individual country. The contributions focus on issues which in each separate country are found relevant, and therefore the issues dealt with are different from country to country. Through our work we have realised that there is not such a thing as one "Nordic approach" to the organisation and financing of health care. But in all countries there is a dominant tendency to provide health care through the public sector. The coverage of the population is universal and is financed through taxation. The political emphasis on equity means that private activity is limited. The quest for the holy grail in the form of a more efficient, still public dominated health service without selling out in terms of accessibility has begun, and within recent years a range of initiatives to promote change has taken place.