The application of Sen's notion of capabilities to problems of the allocation of resources to health in the form of an extra-welfarist framework underlies the justification of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) as the method for valuing the benefits of health care. In this paper we critically...

This paper describes the principles of economics and their application to oral health and health care. After illustrating the economic determinants of oral health, the demand for oral health care is discussed with particular reference to asymmetric information between patient and provider. The...

Many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are far from achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). We believe that efforts to promote equitable access to health care are critical if health systems are to fulfill their potential in contributing to the achievement of the MDGs. However,...

Objective. To develop and evaluate alternative methods of adjusting primary medical care capitation payments for variations in relative need for health care among enrolled practice populations. Methods. We developed alternative needs-based capitation formulae and applied them to a sample of...

Increasing attention is being paid to the non-health care influences on population health status. Policy recommendations emerging from this interest have tended to focus on providing equal opportunities to attain good health. In this sense policies have tended to be ‘enabling’ with little...

Geographically decentralized planning and management is an emerging theme within the health sector in many OECD countries. Advocates of decentralization argue that providing greater authority to local decision-making bodies can improve both the technical and allocative efficiency with which...

This document reviews the findings of studies of the clinical and economic performance of Ontario’s Health Service Organizations and makes recommendations for further evaluation. The tentative conclusions regarding HSO performance indicate that: 1. The HSO program in total and some HSOs...

In this study we develop, appraise and compare alternative approaches to addressing the problem of determining the quantity and mix of nursing resources required for the health- care system in Ontario in the future. We argue that there is no ‘right’ number of nurses per se. On the contrary,...

Systematic variations in health and illness among social groups have persisted and, in some cases increased, in many countries in spite of improvements in the availability of, and access to, health care services. Health policy makers have responded by showing increasing interest in non-clinical...