ABSTRACT
This chapter examines health care provision placing a particular emphasis on critiques of institutional elements of provision and the professionalisation strategies of health care providers.
USING INSTITUTIONS AS ITS STARTING POINT, this chapter explores social scientific perspectives which can provide valuable insights into the nature, organisation and functioning of health care provision and health practitioners. Historical and contemporary views are both deployed and issues relevant to patients, professionals and managers are considered. Following a brief introduction to health care provision the chapter consists of two sections. The first (major) section is concerned with institutions and the individual and the second section is concerned with institutions and professional power.
