ABSTRACT
CONTENTS 7.1 Introduction................................................................................. 134 7.2 The Nature of the Problem.......................................................... 134 7.3 The United Kingdom Experience-Carry On Doctor ................. 135 7.4 The English Health System before 1948...................................... 136 7.5 The National Health Service in 1948 .......................................... 136 7.6 The First Reforms-1973 ............................................................ 137 7.7 The 1979 Reforms ....................................................................... 138 7.8 The 1990s.................................................................................... 138 7.9 New Labor and the Latest Reforms.............................................. 139 7.10 The United States’ Experience ..................................................... 140 7.11 Medicare and Medicaid................................................................ 141 7.12 History of U.S. Health Schemes .................................................. 142 7.13 Moves toward Universal Coverage? .............................................. 142
7.14 Australian Healthcare System-No Worries, Mate ...................... 143 7.15 The Tendency toward the Mean in Western Health Systems ...... 147 Notes ...................................................................................................... 148
7.1 Introduction This chapter explores historical developments in the healthcare systems of the United States, Australia, and England, made in response to the spiralling costs of providing healthcare, and the increased needs for accountability and flexibility. The countries chosen represent the perceived full gamut of Western healthcare systems. From a predominantly private-driven and -funded system (the United States) to a predom inantly state-driven and -funded (England) system, with Australia as a hybrid model.
