Rationing health care: an exploration

Rationing involves a failure to offer care, or the denial of care, from whi ch patients would benefit. Rationing involves definition of efficiency (ben efit) and equity (fairness) allocation criteria and a recognition of a trad e-off between the two. However, accountability for rationing choices also r equires careful governance of the agents of society, doctors, who judge the health needs of competing patients. An integrated rationing system require s management of patient access criteria, the knowledge base which informs p ractice and clinical practices. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.