Group three members

OTEKAT SONI JACKLINE MAYOM MABOUNG MAREK RUSOKE EDWARD AKULLO BEATRICE NAKATO ALICE NAKIBUUKA MARGRET OBITRE E. HAROLD

Group 3 Question
The health care market is different from other markets and has features which demand economic interventions. Discuss these features The role of equity and need Restriction on competition

Definitions
Health
This is the physical, mental and social well being of an individual and not merely absence of disease and infirmity(WHO)

Health care
Is the prevention, treatment and management of illness and preservation of mental and physical well-being through the services of mental and allied health professionals

Distinctive features in health

Health has distinctive features Uncertainty Information problems Insurance Restriction on competition The role of Equity and need Government subsidies and public provision

Restriction on competition
Restriction
An official limit on something

Competition
The effort of two or more parties acting independently to secure something from a third party by offering the most favorable terms or Competition is a process of rivalry between suppliers seeking to win.

Restriction on competition
This is an official limit on more parties acting independently to secure something from a third party by offering the most favorable terms

Importance of competition
Drives firms to improve their internal efficiency and reduce costs Provides incentives to firms to adopt new technology Provides incentives to firms to invest in Innovation Reduces managerial inefficiency

Restriction on competition in health

Licensure restriction Restriction on Advertisement Standard of Ethical conduct Regulations Patent protection in the pharmaceutical industry

Role of equity and need in the health care market

Equity
The distribution of services and resources where they are needed most

Need
The strong desire to acquire something e.g. health care needs, food, water, shelter and clothing. Equity goes hand in hand with need

Forms of Equity in health

Equity in health
Minimizing avoidable inequalities in health and it is determinants e.g. income, occupation, biological factors

Equity in service delivery

Horizontal equity- equal treatment for equal needs Vertical equity - individuals with unequal needs should be treated unequally

Equity in health financing

Incorporating equity dimension into economic evaluation are required as a matter of priority e.g. cost effectiveness of interventions in different groups

Objectives of equity in the health care system

Monitoring trends in health and access to essential health care interventions Allocation of scarce public resources to those who have more need To bridge a gap between the rich and the marginalized poor To increase access and utilization to health services

Measure of equity in health and health care

There are 3 important steps
Classifying people by socio economic status e.g. house hold income and expenditure Measuring health status/ health care by setting targets and indicators e.g. life expectancy, infant and maternal mortality

Quantifying the degree of inequity e.g. resource allocation and services

Challenges in equity
Corruption which leads to unfair distribution of services Inadequate resources Communication barriers Inadequate information and data Political interference Unfair policies Lack of community involvement/ participations

References
www. biomedcentral:com/1471-2458/7178 www.ftc.gov/.../healthcare.htm