Health policy is one of the most debated and analysed areas of social policy internationally, and encompasses a multitude of seemingly disparate but in fact largely interrelated issues. For example, how should we motivate doctors to improve performance? What is ‘performance’, and how do we measure it? What is the impact of antitrust law on provider behaviour? How do we ensure that we attain the most benefit from our health care resources? What is ‘benefit’, why is it defined in the ways that it is, and how do we measure it? Can the implementation of World Trade Organization regulations produce legislation that favours public sector health care development?