title: Special report: scarce resources in health care.
abstract: The assumption that a centrally planned national health care system could match resources to needs has proved to be a chimera. Shortages are inherent in any system that is more or less "free at the point of access" while it still permits unlimited scientific innovation for its patients. Rationing by science is as unsatisfactory as is political or economic rationing: equality in health care cannot be in balance with uncontrolled technological innovation.
mesh_terms: D005102:Health Expenditures; D006285:Health Planning; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom