Since policy-makers and health-care administrators across Canada are currently interested in using privatization as a method of health-system reform, and analysis of public-private health systems and privatization initiatives is relevant, if not critical, at this time. The widespread and long-standing popularity and considerable successes of the Canadia health-care system demand such an analysis. The many ivestigations and other evaluative reports describing the performace of health systems and privatization make this analysis possible. Thee author conducted an extensive review of research and other literature on health-sector privatization and private - or public health systems. Three themes depicting various public -private relationships were found: 1) public or private delivery, paumente, and administration of thealth care; 2)integration or separation of public - and private-heatlh sectors; and 3) the conceptualization of health care as a commodity or a right. These themes are examined through the prims of the Canadian health-care systems and recent developments in Alberta. A discussion of their operational successes, failures, limitations and other issues follows. The literature review shows that privatization, particularly if undertaken in what has been an essentially "public" health system such as Canada`s, needs to be approached - if at all - with caution. Increased controls such as new forms of legislation and regulation would clearly be necessary. Research to monitor the effect of privatization intiatives would also be needed