title: Equity versus humanity in health care.
abstract: When the distinction between subjective value judgements and objective scientific analysis becomes blurred, the resulting confusion of values can result in the treatment of economic symptoms rather than causes. Advisors who confuse egalitarianism with humanitarianism may falsely believe they are helping the poor when, instead, they are only promoting equality: the two are not the same. Statistical studies on the distribution of health care provision do not lead to self-evident policy conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Business Economics, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D004989:Ethics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D040841:Resource Allocation; D013019:South Africa