Healthcare Policy Vol. 7 No. 1 2011

摘要

Shakespeare's opening lines in Twelfth Night warn that overindulgence may lead to indifference. However, the latest production of the play at Stratford, Ontario proves the value of new insights and interpretations, even after more than 400 years, thousands of productions and millions (billions?) of viewers and readers. This rendition is a re-imagination in the best tradition of theatre, true to the original themes but with creative twists and additions that allow Shakespeare's script to play on for a new generation. That's the kind of thinking that our health systems need, too. Beloved by many, they are also the subject of active debate about their future, as well as how to shape health systems and other aspects of society to promote the health of the population. It's a global conversation. Take patient safety, for example; more than 140 countries are engaged with the World Health Organization's program of work to reduce the risk of harm to patients. Or consider the fact that health spending is outpacing economic growth across the OECD. For this reason and others, many countries are reviewing how they finance healthcare, what they spend and how health expenditures are disbursed.