Winner of the first prize in the Health and Social Care category at the BMA Medical Book Awards 2016.With chapters on 25 different countries, this practical and succinct guide to the world's major health systems explores what lessons can be drawn from each to improve health worldwide. Each chapter is an essay designed to give the reader essential knowledge of the history, strengths, weaknesses and lessons of each health system and provide a truly global health perspective - all in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee.Whether a healthcare manager or a student studying health systems, this accessible and engaging book provides a fascinating insight in to how health care is delivered around the world.

1. The Perfect Health System Country profiles Part 1: Asia and Australia 2. Japan - Live long and prosper 3. South Korea - National pride and global ambition 4. China - Communist chimera? 5. Hong Kong - Demography, democracy and destiny 6. Malaysia - Reform some time, soon? 7. Singapore - Wealth and health 8. Indonesia - Largest single payer in the world9. Australia - Advance Australia Fair 10. India - One country, two worlds Part 2: Middle East and Africa 11 Qatar - Build and they will come 12 Israel - The best kept secret in global health? 13 South Africa - No more false dawns Part 3: Europe 14. Russia - A distressed and distressing system 15. The Nordics - Decentralised welfare utopia? 16. The Netherlands - Competition and social solidarity 17. Germany - Doctor knows best 18. Switzerland - You get what you pay for 19. Italy - No longer 'la dolce vita' 20. Portugal - The price of austerity 21. France - Neither Beveridge nor Bismarck but the Republic 22. England - The NHS. In place of fear Part 4: The Americas 23 Canada - At the crossroads 24 The US - Let's face the music and dance 25 Mexico - Unfinished business 26 Brazil - Order and progress? Part 5: Global Challenges 27. Universal Healthcare - Triumph of political will 28. Same Problem, Different Country - The paradox of change 29. Clinical Quality - The more I know, the less I sleep 30. Value Walks - There is no healthcare without the workforce 31. Patients As Partners - Renewable energy 32. Climate Change and Sustainability - Our dirty little secret 33. Ageing - Every cloud has a silver lining Part 6: Conclusion 34 Conclusion - We wouldn't start from here Key Statistics at a Glance