ABSTRACT
This chapter overviews health cooperatives and healthcare systems in 20 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, South America, and Africa. Cooperative involvement in the 19th century focused on social security, with limited health service delivery. The Rochdale pioneers and the International Cooperative Alliance’s first Congress shaped modern cooperative concepts. Cooperative initiatives expanded social security, nutrition, and sanitation in the late 19th and early 20th century, while more comprehensive initiatives supporting cooperatives in healthcare emerged later. Health cooperatives take various forms, including user-owned and provider-owned cooperatives, cooperative insurance enterprises, and cooperative pharmacies. They have the potential to address healthcare needs not met by traditional models. Historical trends show periods of growth and decline, influenced by government policies and opportunities within the healthcare sector. Wars also significantly impact cooperative development. The study includes a summary of the classifications among the countries presenting the first modern health cooperatives, geographical clusters, and historical developments.
