Health and Care.

A faithful reflection of the society it serves, the German medical system is a curious blend of compassionate bureaucracy, state-ordained solidarity and cast-ridden inequality - and, at least for politicians, exasperatingly resistant to reform.

But it also works, delivering a remarkably high standard of health care to all. Though complex and expensive, the country’s system of public, corporate and private health insurance covers virtually everyone, including the unemployed.

In terms of responsiveness, fairness of financial contribution and overall level of health, Germany consistently ranks among the world’s top-performing nations.