In Ireland today, health care issues and debates are seldom far from the headlines - or from public controversy. A growing feature of the public debate is the emphasis on comparative review. Thus the Government’s new Health Strategy compares Irish health performance to that in other EU countries.
This book looks at current health management issues in Ireland from a comparative perspective. It takes a reflective rather than a controversial approach. What can be learnt, the authors ask, from trends elsewhere? How are current issues illuminated by analysis of international trends?
The book focuses on key current issues: the public-private mix, health gain, service planning, performance measurement, quality management and the role of the voluntary sector. It gives an overview of approaches to comparison and proves a brief guide to comparative sources. It will be of interest to those working in the health care field or students of Irish health care policy and management.