People at the Centre of Health Care: Harmonizing Mind and Body, People and Systems

This book calls for a bold transformation of health care and health systems in the 21st century. Quality of care has become an increasingly important issue for the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions, and a policy framework for people-centred health care was endorsed by Member States in September 2007. Specific policy reforms and interventions necessary to transform health care to a more holistic, people-centred approach will need to be determined by leaders and policy-makers at local and national levels in consultation with their constituencies and all interested stakeholders. This book, which is designed to bring members of the public into that debate, is a necessary first step in encouraging dialogue.