The convergence/divergence of health care systems between countries is an interesting facet of the health care system research from a macroeconomic perspective. In this paper, we concentrate on an important dimension of every health care system, namely the convergence/divergence of health care financing (HCF). Based on data from 22 OECD countries in the time period 1970-2005, we use the public financing ratio (public financing in % of total HCF) and per capita public HCF as indicators for convergence. By applying different concepts of convergence, we find that HCF is converging. This conclusion also holds when we look at smaller subgroups of countries and shorter time periods. However, we find evidence that countries do not move towards a common mean and that the rate of convergence is decreasing over time.

/pdf/the-convergence-of-health-care-financing-structures-1yk0x36kww.pdf

The convergence of health care financing structures: empirical evidence from OECD-countries

Objectives

We compared health managers' judgements of: (1) the time they spent on nine major work activities, (2) the time they thought they should allocate and (3) the importance they attributed to each pursuit. These and managers' reasons for devoting time to activities were examined in an Anglo and a Confucian-Asian country.



Method

A questionnaire survey of Australian (n = 251) and Singaporean health managers (n = 340).



Results

In both countries, the correlation between judgements of time spent on activities/activities' importance (1 and 3) was significantly less than the correlation between time spent/time that should be spent (1 and 2), which was less than the correlation between time that should be spent/activities' importance (2 and 3). Singaporeans said they devoted more time to some activities but the importance attached to work pursuits and the reasons given for actual time allocation were similar cross-culturally.



Conclusions

There was evidence of considerable disparity between managers' actual and preferred time allocation and of the globalization of health managers' work values. Evidence regarding time use might contribute to a rethink of how managers' efficiency and effectiveness are construed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Time spent by health managers in two cultures on work pursuits: real time, ideal time and activities' importance.

The paper examines the concept of Managed Care as practised in Southeast Asia and argues that Managed Care insurers are unlikely to spread further. The first part of the paper reviews individual country experience (Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore) followed by a summary of difficulties that Managed Care has encountered. Among these are increasing public defiance, opposition by physicians and the already low costs that are unlikely to make Managed Care an attractive option.

Managed Care expansion to Asia: a critical review

Population and labour force: dynamics and policy in singapore

Abstract This study aims to explore governmental leadership in response to global pandemic. A total of 52 articles from Scopus database were analyzed using Leximancer 4.51, followed by a content analysis. The findings are: (1) There are two concept changes, namely crisis labeling and a change in the meaning of masculine versus feminine which is embedded in leader’s decisions; (2) The theories that support the phenomenon of leadership are quite diverse; (3) The most common methodology is case study. The limitations of the study, especially in the articles analyzed during the coronavirus outbreak. We suggest future research directions into historical perspective. 

/pdf/pandemic-leadership-is-it-just-a-matter-of-good-and-bad-dq76zsg4.pdf

Pandemic Leadership: Is It Just a Matter of Good and Bad?

(1995). The Convergence Model in Health Care Reform: Experiences from Singapore, The United Kingdom and The United States. Asian Journal of Public Administration: Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 60-104.

S. Sundarapandiyan

Papers

The Convergence Model in Health Care Reform: Experiences from Singapore, The United Kingdom and The United States