Need-based resource allocation: different need indicators, different results?

ABSTRACT:

Background

A key policy objective in most publicly financed health care systems is to allocate resources according to need. Many jurisdictions implement this policy objective through need-based allocation models. To date, no gold standard exists for selecting need indicators. In the absence of a gold standard, sensitivity of the choice of need indicators is of concern. The primary objective of this study was to assess the consistency and plausibility of estimates of per capita relative need for health services across Canadian provinces based on different need indicators.

Methods

Using the 2000/2001 Canadian Community Health Survey, we estimated relative per capita need for general practitioner, specialist, and hospital services by province using two approaches that incorpora

SUBMITTER: Kephart G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2728712 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature