Setting health priorities: a review of concepts and approaches

The setting of health priorities is primarily concerned with the equitable distribution of resources and is now more than ever an important part of strategic planning within the National Health Service (NHS). The basic information which can be used to assist in such decision-making and the process by which different agencies become involved are important aspects of priority-setting; this article is based on a major review of the research literature on these aspects and provides a discussion and an analysis of experience within health and other fields. From this material a number of possible approaches to priority-setting are identified and discussed. The article concludes that, before it can be decided how priorities should be set in the future, outstanding questions about how far rational approaches are feasible, about who is to be involved and what role they should play, and about how far such decisions are to be taken nationally or locally will need further consideration.     

经济理论的第二次危机

1971年12月27日,英国经济学家琼·罗宾逊在美国经济学协会第八十四届年会的理查德·艾黎讲座上作了一篇题为《经济理论的第二次危机》的讲演.罗宾逊夫人在讲演中提出了资产阶级经济理论正在经受第二次危机,并对美国凯恩斯派经济理论展开了猛烈的抨击.我国学术界对此讲演曾作过介绍.鉴于这场论争有助于我们了解垄断资产阶级经济理论的发展和演变,现将罗宾逊夫人的《经济理论的第二次危机》和美国凯恩斯派代表人物詹姆斯·托宾的《英国剑桥与美国剑桥之间的论战》两篇文章的摘要一并刊出;同时,我们请中国社会科学院经济研究所黄范章同志写了一篇文章:《从"两个剑桥之争"谈起》,对这场论争的背景和意义,作了扼要的评论.     

新的产业革命

微电子工业方面的非凡进展触发了一场"第二次产业革命".在这场革命中,新技术将使原来由人力操作的工种自动化.这种自动化看来会提高生产率,但将威胁大量的就业机会.当国家科学院的一个委员会声称,"现代的电子工业已经宣告了一场第二次的产业革命……它对社会的影响甚至比原来的产业革命更大",这时候就该引起我们迫切重视了.因为科学院的各个委员会向来是不夸大事实的.并不是唯独科学院指出了电子工业技术的最新进展是势不可挡的社会变革的先驱.在过     

The validity of indices for rural health manpower needs assessment

Population-to-practitioner ratios have long been the primary index in the designation of health manpower shortage areas. This paper documents that application of the widely used population-to-dentist index results in understatement of the need for dental health manpower in rural areas. Through the analysis of utilization data collected from a statewide health screening program in Colorado, the practice of sole reliance on the population-to-dentist indices as an indicator of need was tested. Another measure, the area-(square miles) to-dentist ratio was formulated, examined, and found to be a more useful referent of the need for additional health manpower in rural areas. Utilization of dental services in sparsely settled rural counties of Colorado was unrelated to population-to-dentist ratios. A strong, statistically significant association of utilization with land area-to-dentist ratios was found. The findings of this analysis suggest a need for reevaluation of needs assessment methodologies used in the designation of health manpower shortage areas. Indices more sensitive to consumer circumstance than to the number of health care providers available must be considered.