title: Look to Norway! (But not uncritically).
abstract: The authors of the paper argue that Norway's national health service, despite public perceptions, is both inexpensive and technologically advanced. Norway has a highly regulated medical system at both the national and local levels, and many distribution issues take the form of political debate. As a result, the authors believe that medical care and equipment is equitably distributed, but perhaps over-densely, throughout the country. Although the overall picture is optimistic, there is some concern that technologies, health care priorities, and decision-making processes should be more carefully examined by consensus conferences, advisory groups, and experts in technology assessment.
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003625:Data Collection; D003710:Demography; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends; D006761:Hospitals; D009664:Norway; D011057:Politics; D011639:Public Opinion; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D013675:Technology, High-Cost / Q000600:supply & distribution*