Is it time that we revisit how we define and value what constitutes a health system? We use the term health system but consumers, government, health care providers, insurers and other funders want different things in terms of outputs and outcomes and even how to define an effective system really does mean different things to different people. There are intensive debates regarding the scope, roles and governance of health, aged and disability care services that enable us to challenge existing definitions of what is a health system (1).