ECONOMICS OF HEALTHCARE
(1) Explain how the following concepts are linked to the issue of health care in the UK
(a) of resources (3 marks)
(b) (3 marks)
2/ What factors are likely to push the for health care higher in the years ahead? (6 marks)
3/ What is meant by health care rationing? How is it done in the UK? Is it fair to ration health care? (8 marks)
1.a) The idea behind the scarcity of resources is that there is an infinite demand for resources in the world but only a finite supply. This theory was particularly felt in the NHS where they have only a finite amount of resources, i.e. the amount of land that they possess and the hospitals that they build upon them. The problem is that there is a permanent supply of people who need care. From the Accident and Emergency section, through to the elderly who need constant maintenance and care. Within the NHS, there is a permanent demand for medicines and equipment, but there is only so much supply.