What is the goal of access to health care?
This article first examines the justifications for the goal of access to health care and the variations between health systems in their endorsement of individuals' rights to health care irrespective of income, ethnicity, age and other characteristics. It then examines the meanings of the goal of "access" to health care and considers four key dimensions--service availability ("having" access), service utilisation ("gaining" access), the relevance and effectiveness of services and equity of access. These dimensions provide a common framework that can be applied across countries and health systems and employed to assess the extent to which access to health care is actually achieved.
King's College, London, Division of Health and Social Care Research, Capital House, Weston Street, London SE1 3QD, United Kingdom.
Myfanwy
M
Morgan
D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care