Trends in EU Health Care Systems

For decades, the nations of the European Union wrote the book on universal health coverage. Recent economic developments, however, have created problems ranging from widening inequities of care to growing numbers of uninsured - a progression expertly described by Win de Gooijer in Trends in EU Health Care Systems.

De Gooijer's dual background as an economist and the CEO of Dutch health care corporations, together with his broad international experience, give him a unique understanding of his subject. He traces world economic currents that have affected quality of and access to health care throughout the EU - trends that took years to develop, but are coming to rapid fruition. Comparative illustrations from Europe and the US show national interests at odds with global ones, as governments transfer social responsibilities to market-driven agencies. Included in his discussion:

- Expansion versus reform: a forty-year analysis of Europe's health care systems

- Why governments cannot completely control the always-evolving dynamics of health care

- Ethical and medical issues arising from the continent's changing politics

- Predictions on future directions in EU health care-how much change is possible, how much is necessary.

Some may find De Gooijer's ideas startling, and the book is bound to be the subject of controversy. But it is critical reading for health care managers and policymakers, politicians and insurers, advanced students of public health - in short, anyone looking to Europe for the next phase of this far-reaching evolution.

"This book is a very important contribution to the debate about the future direction of health policy in Europe. It captures the economic and social trends that underpin health systems with a keen and objective eye and poses some very challenging questions about the future. It will not be a comfortable read for politicians but it is a book that must be read." BrianEdwards,