Iain Crinson

This important new textbook provides comparative and critical analysis of health care policy from high-income countries in Europe to low-income developing countries in the Global South. It integrates conceptual themes drawn from the fields of sociology, policy analysis, and political science to offer a unique combination of theory, historical background, and wider social commentary. The book is divided into three sections:Section I establishes the conceptual basis for the analysis of the health policymaking process, including implementation. Section II provides an introduction to the key elements of conducting a comparative health system’s analysis, including chapters that provide examples of performance analysis in both high- and low-income developing countries. Section III examines key challenges now facing health policy-makers that include long-term social care provision, widening the scope of public health to address social inequalities in health outcome, the integration of genomic medicine within a health care system, and the establishment of an effective national pharmaceutical policy. Each chapter includes case studies, historical-institutional contexts, and summaries of key health policies. Detailed and clearly written, it is the ideal text for health and social science students in this expanding area of analysis.

This important new textbook provides comparative and critical analysis of health care policy from high-income countries in Europe to low-income developing countries in the Global South. It integrates conceptual themes drawn from the fields of sociology, policy analysis, and political science to offer a unique combination of theory, historical background, and wider social commentary. The book is divided into three sections:Section I establishes the conceptual basis for the analysis of the health policymaking process, including implementation. Section II provides an introduction to the key elements of conducting a comparative health system’s analysis, including chapters that provide examples of performance analysis in both high- and low-income developing countries. Section III examines key challenges now facing health policy-makers that include long-term social care provision, widening the scope of public health to address social inequalities in health outcome, the integration of genomic medicine within a health care system, and the establishment of an effective national pharmaceutical policy. Each chapter includes case studies, historical-institutional contexts, and summaries of key health policies. Detailed and clearly written, it is the ideal text for health and social science students in this expanding area of analysis.

This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the interdisciplinary field of the Social Studies of Science and Technology (SSST). Over the past two decades, the biomedical sciences have transformed our understanding of the relationship between the social and natural worlds, while its ‘promissory visions’ are seen to offer extraordinary opportunities for economic and social development. But alongside these scientific innovations have emerged new, and frequently unanticipated social, political, bioethical, and legal dilemmas and challenges. This cutting-edge text explores ‘post-genomic’ developments in the field of pharmacogenomics and the prospects for a new ‘precision’ or personalised medicine; the potential of environmental epigenetics to reconfigure the boundaries of the social and natural worlds; the emergence of an array of ‘neuro-disciplines’, seeking to identify the neural basis of a whole range of social and economic behaviours; and the challenges of constructing a coherent and robust governance framework for the conduct of biomedical science research and innovation, responsive to the social and health needs of the whole population.

Key Concepts in Health Studies provides a much needed guide to the central concepts used across the subject, and offers the reader a comprehensive overview of the core topics, theories and debates. Drawing together the fundamentals within the disciplines of health, nursing, and social policy this book is an ideal text both for students studying health in a range of academic fields, and for health and social care practitioners. From ageism to public health, and gender to obesity, the book offers an exciting guide to the multidisciplinary field. Each entry features: -A snapshot definition of the concept -A wider discussion of the main issues -Case studies illustrating the application of theory to practice -Examples of further reading Highly readable, with clear indexing, and cross-referencing between entries, this is not only a student-friendly textbook that will enable the reader to dip into and update their knowledge of a particular key concept, but a valuable resource to anyone practicing in the health care field.

Key Concepts in Health Studies provides a much needed guide to the central concepts used across the subject, and offers the reader a comprehensive overview of the core topics, theories and debates. Drawing together the fundamentals within the disciplines of health, nursing, and social policy this book is an ideal text both for students studying health in a range of academic fields, and for health and social care practitioners. From ageism to public health, and gender to obesity, the book offers an exciting guide to the multidisciplinary field. Each entry features: -A snapshot definition of the concept -A wider discussion of the main issues -Case studies illustrating the application of theory to practice -Examples of further reading Highly readable, with clear indexing, and cross-referencing between entries, this is not only a student-friendly textbook that will enable the reader to dip into and update their knowledge of a particular key concept, but a valuable resource to anyone practicing in the health care field.

This textbook provides a critical assessment of developments in health and healthcare policy within the UK and Europe. Each chapter integrates conceptual themes drawn from the fields of sociology and political science to offer a unique combination of theory, historical detail and wider social commentary. The book is divided into four sections: - Section One establishes a theoretical basis for the analysis of contemporary health policy. - Section Two examines the key constituents of health care 'systems', which includes a comparative analysis of EU member states. - Section Three focuses on contemporary health care policy and provision in the UK. - Section Four assesses the increasingly limited ability of national governments to reduce threats to the health of their populations. Written in an accessible style, the student-friendly approach highlights key concepts and includes introductions, summaries and examples of further reading. Each chapter also includes case studies and activities which encourage the reader to think about the planning, implementation and assessment of specific healthcare policies. This is a timely and authoritative textbook that covers a key topic of the curriculum while also contributing to topical debates. The book will be essential reading for healthcare and social science students taking modules in health policy, and will also be of interest to policy makers and practitioners in the field of healthcare.

This textbook provides a critical assessment of developments in health and healthcare policy within the UK and Europe. Each chapter integrates conceptual themes drawn from the fields of sociology and political science to offer a unique combination of theory, historical detail and wider social commentary. The book is divided into four sections: - Section One establishes a theoretical basis for the analysis of contemporary health policy. - Section Two examines the key constituents of health care 'systems', which includes a comparative analysis of EU member states. - Section Three focuses on contemporary health care policy and provision in the UK. - Section Four assesses the increasingly limited ability of national governments to reduce threats to the health of their populations. Written in an accessible style, the student-friendly approach highlights key concepts and includes introductions, summaries and examples of further reading. Each chapter also includes case studies and activities which encourage the reader to think about the planning, implementation and assessment of specific healthcare policies. This is a timely and authoritative textbook that covers a key topic of the curriculum while also contributing to topical debates. The book will be essential reading for healthcare and social science students taking modules in health policy, and will also be of interest to policy makers and practitioners in the field of healthcare.