Health technology assessment: An introduction to objectives, role of evidence, and structure in Europe
Ano de publicação: 2005
Health systems have developed at different speeds, and with differing degrees
of complexity throughout the twentieth century, reflecting the diverse political
and social conditions in each country.
Notwithstanding their diversity, all systems, however, share a common reason
for their existence, namely the improvement of health for their entire populations. To attain this goal a health system undertakes a series of functions, most
notably, the financing and delivering of health services.
Since available resources are limited, delivering health services involves making
decisions. Decisions are required on what interventions should be offered,
the way the health system is organized, and how the interventions should be
provided in order to achieve an optimal health gain with available resources,
while, at the same time, respecting people’s expectations.