Linking the geographical, the medical and the political in analysing health care delivery systems

Abstract

The models and methodologies used by medical geographers for analysing health care delivery systems are critically reviewed. As a result, it is argued that an intellectual cul-de-sac has been reached because of the lack of linkage in these models and methodologies that explicitly recognize the socio-cultural and political-economic influences in the environment, where the health care delivery system under study exists. Using the example of abortion services in Canada in general, and Ontario specifically for illustrative purposes, a general model for linking the geographical, the medical and the political aspects of health care delivery is proposed.