Rationing the public's health and the optometric agenda.

BACKGROUND

Universal access to health care at an affordable price is a major issue on the current agenda of the nation's legislative, corporate and health care decision makers.

METHODS

The current literature and prevailing ideologies on health service rationing and health care reform were reviewed and evaluated in the context of optometric practice.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

The socio-political nature of the decision making process may lead to recommendations for reforms and market interventions that contravene the agenda of health care providers. To maintain quality of care and contain costs, and as a basis for allocation, judgments must be made about the value of specific services. Some services may be rationed according to the ratio of benefit to cost and their perceived net value to society. If rationing prevails, optometric services will be included in the process of prioritization and allocation.