‘Good Health At Low Cost’ 25 Years On

What makes a successful health system? LONDON—Why do some low and middle income countries manage to achieve good health outcomes while others fail? What factors drive improvements in the health system and in access to primary health care? How can we act on the social determinants of health in cash-strapped economies? Low and middle-income countries can achieve good health, without having to spend large amounts of money: they simply need to apply identifiable techniques and to have particular philosophies. This is the message emerging from a book just launched in London: entitled: ‘Good Health At Low Cost’ 25 Years On. It’s the result of painstaking research into health outcomes from different healthcare policies around the world. The book follows on from research in 1985 when the Rockefeller Foundation published what was to become a seminal report — Good Health At Low Cost — and essential reading for health systems decision- and policy-makers alike. The new book draws on a series of up to date case studies from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Tamil Nadu and Thailand providing fresh insights into the role of effective institutions, innovation and country ownership in catalysing improvements in health. Peter Goodwin reports from the book launch meeting in London with the book’s authors: Anne Mills, Martin McKee, Tracey Pérez Koehlmoos, Hailom Banteyerga and Dina Balabanova, and with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine’s Director, Peter Piot and Editor of the Lancet, Richard Horton