BMJ 1994;308:981-982 (9 April)

Letters

Purchasers, professionals, and public health Criticisms of Abrams report are misdirected..

EDITOR, - Andrew Harris and Jonathan Shapiro's strident criticisms of the tunnel vision of the Abrams report are misplaced.1,2 Their analysis shows naivety and a lack of understanding of the real imperatives in public health. The ire that they direct at the Abrams report - without any explanation to readers of what it recommends - is misdirected. Sadly, the narrow focus of the report is needed since the government has shown little legislative commitment to public health.

Moreover, local evidence suggests that mergers of district health authorities and family health services authorities, instead of strengthening public health, have in some cases resulted in a "rationalisation" and loss of public health resources in the name of economies of scale. But the authors' most glaring error is to have equated the public health function with the purchasing activity of district health authorities and family health services authorities. Have they forgotten that most . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Purchasers, professionals, and public health
A Harris and J Shapiro
BMJ 1994 308: 426-427. [Extract] [Full Text]

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