"The book is very valuable as actual information about the health systems in the Nordic countries and the changes that have been made during the last two decades. It informs well both about the similarities within the 'Nordic Health Model' and the important differences that exist between the countries."

Bo Könberg, County Governor, Former Minister of Health and Social Insurance in Sweden (1991-94)

"This book is a rich, interesting and very useful document. I have been looking, for example, today for precise information on political governing which is not displayed anywhere else. It will be of importance in many aspects!"

Johan Calltorp MD PhD, Professor of Health Policy and Management, The Nordic School of Public Health, Gotenburg

"The publishing of this book about the Nordic health care systems is a major event for those interested not only in Nordic health policy and health systems but also for everybody interested in comparative health policy and health systems. It is the first book in its kind. It covers the four 'large' Nordic countries, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, and does so in a very systematically comparative way. The book is well organized, covers 'everything' and is analytically sophisticated."

Ole Berg, nstitute of Health Management and health economics, University of Oslo, Norway

This book examines recent patterns of health reform in Nordic health care systems, and the balance between stability and change in how these systems have developed. The health systems in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland are investigated through detailed comparisons along a variety of policy-driven parameters.

The following themes are explored:

• Politicians, patients, and professions
  
• Financing, production, and distribution
  
• The role of the primary health sector
  
• The role of public health
  
• Internal management mechanisms
  
• Impact of the European Union

The book probes the impact of these topics and then contrasts the development across all four, allowing the reader to gain a sense of perspective both on the individual countries as well as on the region as a whole.

The editors also explore the extent to which a Nordic Health Care Model exists, and the degree to which that model will continue to help explain the future direction of health policy-making in these four countries. An additional chapter on recent developments in Iceland completes the work.

Contributors: Tinna L. Ásgeirsdóttir, Paula Blomquist, Johan Calltorp, Terje P. Hagen, Unto Häkkinen, Peter K. Jespersen, Pia M. Jonsson, Lars Erik Kjekshus, Allan Krasnik, Meri Larivaara, Juhani Lehto, Kalevi Luoma, Jon Magnussen, Dorte S. Martinsen, Pål E. Martinussen, Bård Paulsen, Clas Rehnberg, Ånen Ringard, Richard B. Saltman, Signild Vallgårda, Karsten Vrangbæk, Ulrika Winblad, Sirpa Wrede.