The first part of this course is concerned with the principles and practice of health system analysis and comparison, the sources and utilization of information relating to the development, organisation and operation of health services, and frameworks for assessing their performance. This leads to a close examination of the Australian health care system - its organisation and management, Australian health law, the range of personal, community and environmental health service activities, their outputs and outcomes, financial, personnel and other inputs and the health information system. The strengths and weaknesses of this system are reviewed and proposals for its adjustment considered. Some comparisons are drawn between the features of the Australian health care system and those operating in other affluent countries.