title: Allocation of health care resources: a challenge for the medical profession.
abstract: If current limitations on health care funding continue, medical practitioners will face increasing pressure to conserve scarce resources and to participate in the allocation of funds. This article discusses the ethical and economic aspects of the physician's role and briefly reviews some efficiency measures that might mitigate the effects of rationing of health care services.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naylor
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Linton
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003363:Cost Control; D003669:Deductibles and Coinsurance; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D004526:Efficiency; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005251:Fees, Medical; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends; D006292:Health Priorities; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D010819:Physician's Role; D012380:Role