National Health Services of Western Europe

This book draws on research within a neo-Weberian and neo-institutionalist perspective to analyse national health services in Western Europe. Exploring the challenges posed by neo-liberal policies, it also looks at the impact of the state, the medical profession, the public, and the medical industrial complex in their development.

Guido Giarelli is Professor of Sociology at the Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Italy. Mike Saks is Emeritus Professor at the University of Suffolk, UK, where he was previously Research Professor in Health Policy.

1.Introduction: The national health services of Western Europe: A historical-comparative perspective. 2.England. 3.Wales and Scotland. 4.Sweden. 5.Denmark. 6.Norway. 7.Italy. 8.Spain. 9.Portugal. 10.Greece. 11.The changing role of the state in a neo-liberal healthcare policy arena. 12.The evolution of medical and health professions in the national health services. 13.The participation of patients and the public in the national health services. 14.The role of the medical-industrial complex in the national health services. 15.Conclusion: Challenges, reforms and future perspectives .