Editors: Konrad Obermann, Peter Müller, Hans-Heiko Müller, Burkhard Schmidt, Bernd Glazinski
Preface
The German health care system, established in the late 19th century, is historically the first universal health care system. After World War II, in line with the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” of 1948, other universal health care systems emerged all over Europe, some following the German example, some coming up with new ways to administer and finance health care for their people.
The development of individual health care systems in Europe created a wide variety of variations, e. g. concerning the way systems are financed, the organization of the public health care system, the extent to which different stakeholders are involved (e. g. the state, insurance providers, professionals etc.), the main contributors and other interesting distinctions. In trying to understand the complex health care systems that have evolved, a large number of aspects need to be taken into account. On a governmental level, one of the most important aspects is cost-effectiveness. Although the German health care system is among the systems providing a very high quality of health care, it is also one of the most expensive and keeps undergoing reforms to reduce costs and maintain or improve quality. This book aims to provide an interested international audience with insight into the “German way” of providing universal health care with all its advantages and disadvantages. We hope it will contribute to facilitating a better understanding of the German health care system by providing information on a multitude of aspects for scientific and practical discussions and exchange.
Professor Joachim Fischer M. D.
Director
Mannheim Institute of Public Health (MIPH)
Heidelberg University
Read the short version of this book as a PDF-Download (free download).
For further information pleas contact Prof. Dr. med. Dr. rer. pol. Konrad Obermann: info@konrad-obermann.de
Tip: More up to date educational events dealing with healthcare systems can be found online on the Education Database »medicine & health«.
