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Book Social Health Insurance Systems In Western Europe

Download or read book Social Health Insurance Systems In Western Europe written by Saltman, Richard and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2004-09-01 with total page 327 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This title explores the nature of the pressures social health insurance systems confront to be more efficient, more effective, and more responsive.

Book EBOOK  Decentralization in Health Care  Strategies and Outcomes

Download or read book EBOOK Decentralization in Health Care Strategies and Outcomes written by Richard Saltman and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2006-12-16 with total page 327 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ·What are the characteristics that define a Social Health Insurance system? ·How is success measured in SHI systems? ·How are SHI systems developing in response to external pressures? Using the seven Social Health Insurance countries in western Europe - Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland - as well as Israel, this important book reviews core structural and organizational dimensions, as well as recent reforms and innovations. Covering a wide range of policy issues, the book: ·Explores the pressures these health systems confront to be more efficient, more effective, and more responsive ·Reviews their success in addressing these pressures ·Examines the implications of change on the structure of SHI’s as they are currently defined ·Draws out policy lessons about past experience and likely future developments in SHI systems in a manner useful to policymakers in Europe and elsewhere Social Health Insurance Systems in Western Europe will be of interest to students of health policy and management as well as health managers and policy-makers. Contributors: Helmut Brand, Jan Bultman, Reinhard Busse, Laurent Chambaud, David Chinitz, Diana M.J. Delnoij, André P. den Exter, Aad A. de Roo, Anna Dixon, Isabelle Durand-Zaleski, Hans F.W. Dubois, Josep Figueras, Bernhard Gibis, Stefan Greß, Bernhard J. Güntert, Jean Hermesse, Maria M. Hofmarcher, Martin McKee, Pedro W. Koch-Wulkan, Claude Le Pen, Kieke G.H. Okma, Martin Pfaff, Richard B. Saltman, Wendy G.M. van der Kraan, Jürgen Wasem, Manfred Wildner, Matthias Wismar.

Book EBOOK  Critical Challenges For Health Care Reform In Europe

Download or read book EBOOK Critical Challenges For Health Care Reform In Europe written by Richard B. Saltman and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 1998-10-16 with total page 442 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume explores the central issues driving the present process of healthcare reform in Europe. 17 chapters written by scholars and policy makers from all parts of Europe draw together the available evidence from epidemiology and public health, economics, public policy, organizational behaviour and management theory as well as real world policy making experience, laying out the options that health sector decision-makers confront. Through its cross-disciplinary, cross-national approach, the book highlights the underlying trends that now influence health policy formulation across Europe. An authoritative introduction provides a broad synthesis of present trends and strategies in European health policy.

Book Health Care Systems in Europe and Asia

Download or read book Health Care Systems in Europe and Asia written by Christian Aspalter and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2012 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the healthcare experience of the most developed countries in Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore) and compares this with four of the most important health care systems in Europe (UK, France, Germany and Italy).

Book EBOOK  Purchasing to Improve Health Systems Performance

Download or read book EBOOK Purchasing to Improve Health Systems Performance written by Josep Figueras and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2005-03-16 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Purchasing is championed as key to improving health systems performance. However, despite the central role the purchasing function plays in many health system reforms, there is very little evidence about its development or its real impact on societal objectives. This book addresses this gap and provides: ·A comprehensive account of the theory and practice of purchasing for health services across Europe ·An up-to-date analysis of the evidence on different approaches to purchasing ·Support for policy-makers and practitioners as they formulate purchasing strategies so that they can increase effectiveness and improve performance in their own national context ·An assessment of the intersecting roles of citizens, the government and the providers Written by leading health policy analysts, this book is essential reading for health policy makers, planners and managers as well as researchers and students in the field of health studies. Contributors: Toni Ashton, Philip Berman, Michael Borowitz, Helmut Brand, Reinhard Busse, Andrea Donatini, Martin Dlouhy, Antonio Duran, Tamás Evetovits, André P. van den Exter, Josep Figueras, Nick Freemantle, Julian Forder, Péter Gaál, Chris Ham, Brian Hardy, Petr Hava, David Hunter, Danguole Jankauskiene, Maris Jesse, Ninel Kadyrova, Joe Kutzin, John Langenbrunner, Donald W. Light, Hans Maarse, Nicholas Mays, Martin McKee, Eva Orosz, John Øvretveit, Dominique Polton, Alexander S. Preker, Thomas A. Rathwell, Sabine Richard, Ray Robinson, Andrei Rys, Constantino Sakellarides, Sergey Shishkin, Peter C. Smith, Markus Schneider, Francesco Taroni, Marcial Velasco-Garrido, Miriam Wiley

Book Health Care in Europe

    Book Details:
  • Author : Y. W. van Kemenade
  • Publisher :
  • Release : 1993
  • ISBN :
  • Pages : 96 pages

Download or read book Health Care in Europe written by Y. W. van Kemenade and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 96 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this report the finance and reimbursement systems of health care in 18 European countries will be described: 12 EC and 6 EFTA countries. Besides a global description of the functioning of the systems three aspects will come up for discussion: 1) The financing of the overall system, which means the way inhabitants of a country pay for health care. Health care can be financed by individual payments in an insurance system (social and private) or by taxes in a national system. 2) The financing of subsystems: the reimbursement systems of hospitals and the professionals (specialists and general) practitioners). 3) Recent developments: the description of every country will finish with a paragraph of recent developments in the health care sektor.

Book Reforms in Long Term Care Policies in Europe

Download or read book Reforms in Long Term Care Policies in Europe written by Costanzo Ranci and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-11-08 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the last two decades, many changes have happened to the social welfare policies of various industrial countries. Citizens have seen their pensions, unemployment benefits, and general healthcare policies shrink as “belt tightening” measures are enforced. But in contrast, long-term care has seen a general growth in public financing, an expansion of beneficiaries, and, more generally, an attempt to define larger social responsibilities and related social rights. The aim of this book is to describe and interpret the changes introduced in long-term care policies in Western Europe. The volume argues that recent reforms have brought about an increasing convergence in LTC policies. Most of the new programs have developed a new general approach to long-term care, based on a better integration of social care and health care. The book explores increasing public support given to family care work (in the past, the family would take care of the elderly or infirm) and increasing growth and recognition of a extended social care market (by which care has shifted from a moral obligation based on family reciprocity to a paid, professional activity). A new social care arrangement has therefore been developing in Western countries, based on a new mix of family obligations, market provision, and public support. In order to understand such changes, this analysis will take into account the social and economical impact of these reforms.

Book EBOOK  Nordic Health Care Systems  Recent Reforms and Current Policy Challenges

Download or read book EBOOK Nordic Health Care Systems Recent Reforms and Current Policy Challenges written by Jon Magnussen and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2009-09-16 with total page 357 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "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.

Book EBOOK  European Child Health Services and Systems  Lessons without Borders

Download or read book EBOOK European Child Health Services and Systems Lessons without Borders written by Ingrid Wolfe and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2014-02-16 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The book will focus on three key aspects of delivery of child health services: service integration and coordination, public health measures, and enhancing the quality of care for children. Taking a child-centric view on understanding how health services and systems work the book aims to contribute towards improving children’s health through deepening the understanding of children’s health services.Focusing primarily on the western European countries the book draws on research conducted with child health leaders in ten countries: Austria, Britain, Finland, France, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, and Sweden. The chapters include clinical scenarios designed to help identify and describe the various ways in which children and their families negotiate health services when dealing with twelve different conditions. Using clinical scenarios in this way allows the book authors to capture the diverse aspects of each health system as well as assessment and analysis of the challenges involved in each, and their successes and failures.

Book EBOOK  Health Systems  Health  Wealth and Societal Well being  Assessing the case for investing in health systems

Download or read book EBOOK Health Systems Health Wealth and Societal Well being Assessing the case for investing in health systems written by Martin McKee and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2011-05-16 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How can we improve health, wealth and societal well-being by investing in health systems? How can we ensure that health systems are sustained in the future? How can we monitor, manage and improve performance so that health systems are as effective and efficient as possible? This book looks at health systems from a new perspective. By reviewing the complex relationship between health systems, health and wealth, it argues that health systems need not be, as is often believed, simply a drag on resources but rather can be part and parcel of improving health and achieving better economic growth. Aiming to assist policy-makers as they assess the case for investing in health systems, Health Systems,Health, Wealth and Societal Well-being reviews the evidence on: The contribution of health systems to better health and to economic growth The ways that investment in better health can save future health costs as well as boosting economic growth How we can create equitable, sustainable health systems fit for the 21st century

Book EBOOK  Economic Crisis  Health Systems and Health in Europe  Impact and Implications for Policy

Download or read book EBOOK Economic Crisis Health Systems and Health in Europe Impact and Implications for Policy written by Sarah Thomson and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2015-06-16 with total page 218 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Economic shocks pose a threat to health and health system performance by increasing people’s need for health care and making access to care more difficult – a situation compounded by cuts in public spending on health and other social services. But these negative effects can be avoided by timely public policy action. While important public policy levers lie outside the health sector, in the hands of those responsible for fiscal policy and social protection, the health system response is critical. This book looks at how health systems in Europe reacted to pressure created by the financial and economic crisis that began in 2008. Drawing on the experience of over 45 countries, the authors:  analyse health system responses to the crisis in three policy areas: public funding for the health system; health coverage; and health service planning, purchasing and delivery assess the impact of these responses on health systems and population health identify policies most likely to sustain the performance of health systems facing financial pressure explore the political economy of implementing reforms in a crisis The book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the choices available to policy-makers - and the implications of failing to protect health and health-system performance - in the face of economic and other forms of shock.

Book EBOOK  Facets of Public Health in Europe

Download or read book EBOOK Facets of Public Health in Europe written by Bernd Rechel and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2014-08-16 with total page 378 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Public health has had positive results in the last two centuries when it comes to reducing the impact and prevalence of infectious disease.However, much remains to be done to reduce non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer, which make up the major disease burden of the WHO European Region. This book takes a broad but detailed approach to public health in Europe and offers the most comprehensive analysis of this region currently available. It considers a huge range of key topics in public health and includes chapters on the following topics: Screening Health Promotion Tackling social determinants of health Health Impact Assessment The Public Health Workforce Public Health Research In addition to these topics and themes the authors consider the existing public health structures, capacities and services across a range of European countries; identifying what needs to be done to strengthen public health action and improve public health outcomes.Reflecting the broad geographical scope of the entire WHO European region this book uses examples from a diverse range of countries to illustrate different approaches to public health. This book is essential reading for anyone studying or working in the field of public health, especially those with an interest in European practice. This title is in the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Series.

Book EBOOK  Decentralization in Health Care  Strategies and Outcomes

Download or read book EBOOK Decentralization in Health Care Strategies and Outcomes written by Richard Saltman and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2005-12-16 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Decentralization has become a popular management strategy in many European health care systems. The term describes a wide variety of power transfer arrangements and accountability systems. The logic of decentralization is grounded in an intrinsically powerful idea; that smaller organizations, properly structured and steered, are inherently more agile and accountable than larger organizations. In a world where large organizations control wide swathes of both public and private sector activity, the possibility of establishing more locally operated, locally responsible institutions holds out great attraction. This text explores the capacity and impact of decentralization within European health care systems. It examines both the theoretical underpinnings as well as recent practical experiences, drawing upon both published literature and evidence collected directly from the field. The book also assesses the appropriateness of management processes within health systems for implementing a successful decentralization strategy. Decentralization in Health Care will appeal to health policy makers, postgraduates taking courses in health services management, HR, health policy and health economics, and human resource professionals.

Book EBOOK  Successes and Failures of Health Policy in Europe  Four decades of divergent trends and converging challenges

Download or read book EBOOK Successes and Failures of Health Policy in Europe Four decades of divergent trends and converging challenges written by Johan Mackenbach and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2013-03-16 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the last 40 years the health of Europeans overall has improved markedly yet progress has been very uneven from country to country. Successes and Failures of Health Policy in Europe considers the impact health policy has had on population health in Europe. It asks key questions about mortality trends and health policy activity, such as: Do between-country differences in rates of smoking-related diseases reflect differences in tobacco-control policies? What would be a country's health gain if it implemented the policies of the best-performing country? Which social, economic and political factors influence a country's success in health policy? This book fills an important gap by offering a comparative analysis of the successes and failures of health policy in different European countries. In doing so it helps readers identify best practices in health improvement from which other countries can learn. The book explores how policy impact can be quantified and identifies which aspects of policy we can learn from when tackling the determinants of health in our populations. Written by experts and based on the latest evidence-based research, this volume is a must have for policy makers and those working in healthcare as professionals, researchers and students alike.

Book EBOOK  Caring for People with Chronic Conditions  A Health System Perspective

Download or read book EBOOK Caring for People with Chronic Conditions A Health System Perspective written by Ellen Nolte and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2008-09-16 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Overall, the book walks a delicate balance between evidence and advocacy regarding the care of people with chronic conditions. Nolte and McKee conclude the volume with the following: 'A first step is to recognize that something must be done. A second, which we hope will be facilitated by the evidence provided in this book, is to realize that something actually can be done, and that they can do it (p. 240)'. The overarching desire to match the need for evidence with the reality that advocates (including policy-makers) need a reasoned voice makes the book well suited to health policy deliberations." International Journal of Integrated Care The complex nature of many chronic diseases, which affect people many different ways, requires a multifaceted response that will meet the needs of the individual patient. Yet while everyone agrees that the traditional relationship between an individual patient and a single doctor is inappropriate, there is much less agreement about what should replace it. Many countries are now experimenting with new approaches to delivering care in ways that do meet the complex needs of people with chronic disorders, redesigning delivery systems to coordinate activities across the continuum of care. Yet while integration and coordination have an intuitive appeal, policy makers have had little to help them decide how to move forward. The book systematically examines some of the key issues involved in the care of those with chronic diseases. It synthesises the evidence on what we know works (or does not) in different circumstances. From an international perspective, it addresses the prerequisites for effective policies and management of chronic disease. Taking a whole systems approach, the book: Describes the burden of chronic disease in Europe Explores the economic case for investing in chronic disease management Examines key challenges posed by the growing complexity in healthcare including prevention, the role of self-management, the healthcare workforce, and decision-support Examines systems for financing chronic care Analyses the prerequisites for effective policies for chronic care Caring for People with Chronic Conditions is key reading for health policy makers and health care professionals, as well as postgraduate students studying health policy, health services research, health economics, public policy and management. Contributors: Reinhard Busse, Elisabeth Chan, Anna Dixon, Carl-Ardy Dubois, Isabelle Durand-Zaleski, Daragh K Fahey, Nicholas Glasgow, Monique Hejmans, Izzat Jiwani, Martyn Jones, Cécile Knai, Nicholas Mays, Martin McKee, Ellen Nolte, Thomas E Novotny, Joceline Pomerleau, Mieke Rijken, Dhigna Rubiano, Debbie Singh, Marc Suhrcke.

Book EBOOK  Diagnosis Related Groups in Europe  Moving towards transparency  efficiency and quality in hospitals

Download or read book EBOOK Diagnosis Related Groups in Europe Moving towards transparency efficiency and quality in hospitals written by Reinhard Busse and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2011-11-16 with total page 490 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) systems were introduced in Europe to increase the transparency of services provided by hospitals and to incentivise greater efficiency in the use of resources invested in acute hospitals. In many countries, these systems were also designed to contribute to improving – or at least protecting – the quality of care. After more than a decade of experience with using DRGs in Europe, this book considers whether the extensive use of DRGs has contributed towards achieving these objectives. Written by authors with extensive experience of these systems, this book is a product of the EuroDRG project and constitutes an important resource for health policy-makers and researchers from Europe and beyond. The book is intended to contribute to the emergence of a ‘common language’ that will facilitate communication between researchers and policy-makers interested in improving the functioning and resourcing of the acute hospital sector. The book includes: A clearly structured introduction to the main ‘building blocks’ of DRG systems An overview of key issues related to DRGs including their impact on efficiency, quality, unintended effects and technological innovation in health care 12 country chapters - Austria, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden Clearly structured and detailed information about the most important DRG system characteristics in each of these countries Useful insights for countries and regions in Europe and beyond interested in introducing, extending and/ or optimising DRG systems within the hospital sector

Book EBOOK  Mental Health Policy and Practice Across Europe

Download or read book EBOOK Mental Health Policy and Practice Across Europe written by Martin Knapp and published by McGraw-Hill Education (UK). This book was released on 2006-12-16 with total page 483 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: We are proud to announce that this book is joint winner of the EHMA Baxter Award 2007. "A genuinely fantastic resourse; such a rare text that provides such factual information for students and lecturers. A rich review of the subject areas from across Europe. Fantastic text." Chris Kelly, Programme Leader, Bournemouth University "Mental Health Policy and Practice Across Europe is a fascinating, complicated volume that looks at one of the key dimensions of contemporary mental health policy development in Europe — the role of the European Union (EU)." Medicine Weekly In much of Europe it remains taboo to discuss the challenges that poor mental health raises for governments, societies and particularly for people with mental health problems themselves. This book maps the current state of policy, service provision and funding for mental health care across Europe, taking into account the differing historical contexts that have shaped both the development and delivery of services. A holistic approach is adopted that aims to assess the influence on mental health of environmental factors such as housing, poverty, employment, social justice and displacement. Covering a wide range of policy issues, the book: Examines the legal rights of people with mental health problems Addresses the impact of stigma, social exclusion and discrimination Reviews the role of users and their families in the development of mental health services and policy Reflects on approaches to reform and on the future development of services Evaluates opportunities for the rehabilitation of people with mental health problems Discusses the financing and organisation of mental health systems Reflects on approaches to reform and the future development of services Mental Health Policy and Practice Across Europe is key reading for policy makers, professionals involved in the delivery of health and social care services, voluntary agencies, non-governmental organizations, academics and students of health policy. Contributors: Francesco Amaddeo, University of Verona, Italy; Peter Anderson, Department of Primary Care, University of Oxford; Robert Anderson, Research Director, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working ; Terry Brugha, University of Leicester; Peter Bower, National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, University of Mancheste; Lorenzo Burti, University of Verona, Italy; Kathryn Berzins, Claire Curran; Paul Cutler, The Hamlet Trust; Natalie Drew, Dept of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Genev; Angelo Fioritti, University of Bologna, Italy; Michelle Funk, Dept of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva; Simon Gilbody, Department of Psychiatry, University of Leeds; Vidar Halsteinli, SINTEF, Oslo, Norway; Robert Hayward, The Hamlet Trust; Rachel Jenkins, WHO Collaborating Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London; Heinz Katschnig, University of Vienna, Austria; Robert Keukens, Geneva Initiative on Psychiatry, Hilversum, The Netherlands; Susan Kirkwood, European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness, Belgium; Martin Knapp, Director, PSSRU and LSE Health and Social Care, London School of Economics and Political Science, London; Viviane Kovess, MGEN, Pari; Eva Jane Llopis, Prevention Research Centre, Academic Centre for Social Sciences and Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Jo Lucas, The Hamlet Trust; Ville Lehtinen, National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES), Helsinki, Finland; Lorenza Magliano, Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples, Italy; David McDaid, LSE Health and Social Care and European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, London School of Economics and Political Science; Elias Mossialos, Director, LSE Health and Social Care and European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, London School of Economics and Political Science; Camilla Parker, Legal and Policy Consultant, Open Society Institute Budapest; Dainius Puras, Department of Social Pediatrics and Child Psychiatry, Vilnius Medical University; Roxana Radulescu, Mental Health Europe, Brussels; Diana Rose, Service Users Research Enterprise, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London; Nikolas Rose, Department of Sociology, London School of Economics and Political Science; Luis Salvador, University of Cadiz, Spain; Benedetto Saraceno, Director, Mental Health, World Health Organization, Geneva; Liz Sayce, Director, Disability Rights Commission; Edward Shorter, University of Toronto; Michele Tansella, University of Verona; Graham Thornicroft, Health Services Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London; Toma Tomov, Department of Psychiatry, University of Sofia, Bulgaria; Charles Watters, University of Kent, Canterbury; Richard Wynne, The Work Research Centre, Dublin; Robert Van Voren, General Secretary, Geneva Initiative on Psychiatry, Hilversum, The Netherlands; Ingrid Zechmeister, University of Vienna