In former socialist states from Central and Eastern Europe, the transformations towards democracy and free market have had profound, in some cases dramatic, effects on people’s health and life expectancy. It has been a privilege for the PHOENIX network to welcome many members of the academia from that part of Europe, providing us with deeper insights and understanding of the history and present state in their countries and contributing to a comparative and theoretical analysis. The authors of the articles of this issue give us interesting and illuminating examples of recent trends regarding health status, public health, welfare policies and their implementations. Both globalisation and local circumstances are playing important roles for the outcome. In the light of the economic and social constraints that threaten to follow upon the recent financial breakdown and general recession of the world economy, it becomes even more important to analyse and draw informed conclusions regarding the potential consequences of rapid change.