HEALTH TRANSITION AND NEEDS-BASED TECHNOLOGY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

Investment in health can offer additional benefits to development inde pendent of economic improvement. Many technologies have been useful in improving the health of the people in the past. However, rapid and of ten unpredictable change has contributed to the inequity, inefficiency , and rising cost of health care. This paper outlines why a needs-base d approach to assessing any new technology in the health sector is ess ential. To respond to changing needs, capacities within the health car e system, several of which are described here, must be strengthened. N eeds-based technology planning and implementation is affordable and fe asible and is crucial in order that both health as a basic human right and good health at low cost can be attained.