The practice of medicine in relation to the limitation of availability of financial resources
Journal Title: Αρχεία Ελληνικής Ιατρικής - Year 2011, Vol 28, Issue 6
Abstract
It is generally accepted that both the physician and the health system should aim to defend the health of each patient individually and protect the health of the population in general. Nowadays, however, the cost of supplying health services and products is undergoing significant and rapid increase, mainly due to developments in medical science, the expectations of the public and demographic ageing. This phenomenon causes intense financing problems. Since the resources allocated for the organization and operation of the health system are not unlimited, it is obvious that the immoderate consumption of these resources by certain patients limits their use by the rest of the population. For this reason, it is necessary to seek optimal distribution of the available resources in order to meet the needs for constriction of the expenses. Efforts directed towards optimal allocation of resources should be conditioned by the principles of social justice and the need for protection of the patient. Cost restraints can be achieved through the evasion of waste and restriction of those processes and interventions which are of minimal or uncertain benefit but high cost. To achieve this, the criteria of effectiveness and efficiency are used. The measurement of effectiveness is based on the findings of evidence-based medicine, while efficiency is calculated using economic analyses that relate the costs to the results. Health policies focus on both the behavior of the public and the rules of medical practice. In the face of these contemporary challenges the role of the physician is of particular importance for both the protection of the individual patient's health and the promotion of public health.
Authors and Affiliations
C. MILIONIS
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP155612
- DOI -
- Views 96
- Downloads 0
The knowledge of health scientists about nutritional issues
METHOD A nutrition questionnaire consisting of 7 questions was completed by 255 health science students and health professionals. Descriptive statistics was performed using SPSS 13.0, the accuracy of the answers was reco...
The sexual behavior of Greek adolescents: Attitudes towards HIV infection and condom use
OBJECTIVE A considerable proportion of new HIV infections in Greece present in people aged up to 29 years, probably due to infection during adolescence. Condom use is relatively low in this age group and the attitudes of...
Pulmonary mycetoma
No abstract available
The therapeutic use of sport during the Byzantine period
The acceptance of exercise as a form of rehabilitation and promotion and preservation of health was complete in the Byzantine practice of medicine. This study was made to investigate to what extent exercise was employed...
Pediatric rheumatic diseases: Epidemiology, genetics and environmental factors
Pediatric rheumatic diseases represent the commonest chronic diseases of pediatrics as well as one of the most significant causes of children's disability. The registries of pediatric rheumatic patients that have been or...