Measuring the efficiency of health systems

doi:10.1136/bmj.323.7308.295

BMJ 2001;323:295-296 ( 11 August )

Editorials

Measuring the efficiency of health systems

The World Health Report sets the agenda, but there's still a long way to go

Papers p 307

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

In June 2000 the World Health Organization provided a long awaited answer to the question beloved of politicians and journalists:"How does the health system in country X compare with that incountry Y?" The results, published in the World Health Report2000,¹ delighted some governments, such as that of France,which came first, but infuriated others, such as Brazil, at 125.The rankings are based on measures of achievement of five healthsystem goals. The achievement of health is seen as a core objectiveof a health system, so goals are a high level of health and afair distribution. A health system should also be responsive topopular expectations. This includes respect for individuals (autonomyand confidentiality) and client orientation (prompt service andquality of facilities). As with health, the resulting goals relateto the absolute level of responsiveness and its distribution.The fifth goal is fair financing, . . . [Full text of this article]

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