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The search for the Holy Grail: combining decentralised planning and contracting mechanisms in the French health care system
Author(s) -
Bellanger Martine M.,
Mossé Philippe R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
health economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.55
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1099-1050
pISSN - 1057-9230
DOI - 10.1002/hec.1031
Subject(s) - rationalisation , equity (law) , holy grail , health care , economics , public health , competition (biology) , public administration , new public management , public economics , business , public sector , economic growth , political science , economy , law , medicine , nursing , ecology , geometry , mathematics , world wide web , computer science , biology
Abstract France has recently adopted one of the least market‐oriented models for reforming its health care system, where competition does not feature at all prominently in the overall policy design.This country has a strong tradition of top‐down public administration, and health professionals, trade unions and the general public are all uneasy about the idea of introducing market forces and privatising public health provision. The main reforms discussed in this article were based on planning, rationalisation, cost‐containment, efficiency and equity. However, some embryonic changes and emerging practices can be detected which might seem to relate to the ‘new public management’ approach, and which could also serve as a basis for future market initiatives. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.