Justice and allocation of health care resources Flashcards
1
Q
What are the three premises of allocation of health care resources
A
- Resources are always limited and finite. the current crisis is thus a tragic unavoidable phenomenon
- rationing is therefore inevitable
- it should thus be fair e.g. based on some principles of justice
2
Q
What is increasing demand resulting from
A
- increase in population
- rising life expectancy and particular increase in unhealthy life expectancy
- greater public awareness of medical rights and possibilities
- increase in supplier-induced demand
- low costs at the point of delivery resulting in people consuming more than they need
3
Q
What causes decreasing supply
A
- medical technology is more expensive than ever
- other national needs compete for resources
- increase in defensive medicine and other forms of inefficiency
- the need to contain government expenditure
4
Q
What is the evidence of scarcity in the NHS
A
- spending per capita is less than most other OECD countries
- UK is behind in provision of hospital beds
- shortage of doctors and nurses
- some drugs and services are not available
- underfunding for specific groups
- long waiting times
5
Q
What are the levels of allocation
A
Macro allocation
micro allocation
6
Q
Name the macro-allocation levels
A
- national level
- regional
- sub-regional levels
- hospital v primary care
- prevention v cure
- disease level
- treatment level
7
Q
Name micro allocation levels
A
Allocation of resources within a unit and among individuals
8
Q
What is the main justice for macro allocation
A
quality adjusted life years
- a criterion of allocation that advocates investment in acute curable conditions as opposed to chronic condition
- meant to maximise economic productivity and national debt-payment capacity, it is not meant to maximise life expectancy
9
Q
What is the justice for micro-allocation
A
- equality
- need
- ability to pay
