Health care systems (HCSs) are essential for the healthy development of individuals, families, and societies in accordance with human rights. HCSs are vital to establish, promote, and strengthen the delivery of preventive health services to all sections of society in a fair and equitable manner. 

This book contains well-researched papers on HCSs in different countries of the world. The distinguished contributors have direct knowledge and experience of the functioning of HCSs in their respective countries. The countries profiled are: the US, Australia, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, Thailand, Turkey, Bangladesh, Ghana, and India. While treatment of the subject varies from country to country, depending upon the local conditions and government policies, some common features are discernible in the contributions. These include: the history and present organizational structure/management of HCSs; health care financing and resource utilization; targeted health care programs for the poor; health infrastructure; indigenous/traditional HCSs; occupational health; health sector reforms.