National health systems and the evaluation of transformation in health policies of Turkey since 1980

The main purposes of our study are to reveal `healthcare service? as a `public service?, to review main theoretical health systems, current healthcare systems and funding models in the world, and to suggest convenient policies and regulations for Turkey?s current health system in this context.The most important fact for a society to survive at a high level of welfare is assuring healthy generations. Today, it?s commonly accepted that leading economies are the countries which have higher rates of human capital accumulation and it is obvious that once developed countries realized the importance of human capital, they have attached more importance to healthcare policies and prioritized healthcare.While developed countries spend more for preventative healthcare services, Turkey spends mainly on outpatient healthcare services and pharmaceuticals which cause some suspicions and questions to rise about the efficiency of current healthcare system.In this context, it is highly important to analyze the health systems in the world and to identify the requirements of current Turkish health system by the means of both legislation and application.The main restrictions of our study are as follows: The varied nature of different cultures and their effects on the perception of some critical phenomena such as the importance of healthcare services, whether healthcare services are public services and whether healthcare is a `right? or `privilege?. It must be mentioned that the development levels, income levels and market structures are also varied by countries.In this study; main theoretical health systems, current healthcare systems and financing models in the world, Turkey?s current health system, its problems, requirements and some key suggestions are reviewed and evaluated.