First published in 1979, Supplies Management for Health Services looks at the characteristics and problems of hospital suppliers and examines the way in which the hospital and the National Health Service deal with supplies problems and relations with suppliers. Beginning with a description of the National Health Service and its supplies’ organisations and the role of the Department of Health and Social Security in this field, the book then reports on the detailed studies made over two years of the supplies’ problems of ten London area health authorities and ten London manufacturers of medical equipment. The NHS situation is then contrasted with the supplies’ situation in three non-health organisations and with the health supplies situation in France and West Germany. The final part of the book analyses the information obtained, proposes a means of assessing supplies systems, and evaluates the NHS situation. This is followed by the realistic proposals for reform, advocating a system similar to that used in British defence services, based on a central procurement agency, close cooperation with private manufacturers, and manufacture by government where necessary. This book will surely interest students of economics and global health.
