There are two types of health systems in the world, public and privatised, though in practice virtually all national systems are some form of hybrid. Nevertheless, these two opposing models drive much of the dynamics of health systems. The best health outcomes (i.e. low preventible disease and low critical mortality rates) come from those countries which have (i) publicly funded and well coordinated systems (ii) universal free access to health services (iii) large numbers of trained health professionals (iv) effective health promotion programs and (v) high general levels of education. These factors are more important than total money spent on health.

2009 Public vs private: Developing accessible health systems PDF

Just Change, Issue 14, p.7