Challenges of health care systems and health cooperatives in international and national context

Abstract

This paper presents different models of health systems in the world as well as selected important challenges that they face. Also, the paper presents historical and modern concepts of development of health cooperatives in selected countries, including the Republic of Serbia. Observing the long-term sustainability of different models of health systems, certain weaknesses are pointed out, but also the significant role of health cooperatives in these systems over time, both in the international and national context. A view of the work of health cooperatives during the COVID-19 pandemic in selected countries is presented with examples of innovations in organizational terms that health cooperatives have applied in order to increase efficiency and to respond to business and health challenges posed by the pandemic. A potential answer to the presented weaknesses of health systems is to consider establishing and strengthening health cooperatives, having in mind their role in those systems throughout history, with special reference to the Republic of Serbia where health cooperatives were founded during the 19th century. However, although Serbian health cooperatives were a model for the development of health cooperatives in the world, since 1949 health cooperatives in Serbia are almost non-existent. Following the genesis of the development of these organizations and their modern role in societies around the world, the conclusions indicate the flexibility and resilience of health cooperatives to adapt to new socio-economic conditions, innovation of these organizations shown over time, importance and contribution to societies during their history and during the emerging pandemic. Also, the need for a change in public policies is pointed out, which would enable the establishment of a larger number of health cooperatives in the Republic of Serbia in response to the growing challenges of the health system, following the example of the world.