Ann Wall is Senior Lecturer in Social Administration and Health Policy at Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

• 1 Introduction; The context of health care systems; The development of state involvement; The principal features of service delivery and administration; Financing arrangements; Contemporary issues in health policy; References and further reading 2 Australia 3 Italy 4 The Netherlands 5 Sweden 6 The United Kingdom 7 The United States of America 8 Conclusion

Ann Wall is Senior Lecturer in Social Administration and Health Policy at Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

• 1 Introduction; The context of health care systems; The development of state involvement; The principal features of service delivery and administration; Financing arrangements; Contemporary issues in health policy; References and further reading 2 Australia 3 Italy 4 The Netherlands 5 Sweden 6 The United Kingdom 7 The United States of America 8 Conclusion

Ann Wall is Senior Lecturer in Social Administration and Health Policy at Sheffield Hallam University, UK.

• 1 Introduction; The context of health care systems; The development of state involvement; The principal features of service delivery and administration; Financing arrangements; Contemporary issues in health policy; References and further reading 2 Australia 3 Italy 4 The Netherlands 5 Sweden 6 The United Kingdom 7 The United States of America 8 Conclusion