This book contributes to the theory and practice of the new management discipline of health purchasing, and to an understanding of health purchasing organizations, both public and private. It examines the purpose and methods of health purchasing as a service industry in a rapidly changing and unique type of market. Although concentrating on public health purchasing in the British National Health Service, the book does so in a way which allows comparisons to be made with purchasing in other countries. It presents practical approaches, concepts, and models which have helped purchasing managers and governing board members to tackle key issues. It draws on experience from a variety of sources including a development programme for seven integrated NHS purchasing agencies and the author's research into health reforms in Europe and the USA. Taking a multidisciplinary perspective, the book also draws on knowledge from public health, health policy, health economics, service management and organization, and organization development.

Health management private health, public heal, national health service