Overview

Efficiency in health systems is a beneficial goal that few would argue against. If efficiency is attained, the maximum benefits are being squeezed out of the available resources. This article sets out a basic model of efficiency and indicates how it can be used to secure operational indicators of efficiency. It concludes with a short discussion on where the most promising scope for efficiency improvement in health systems might lie, namely the reconfiguration of services; information; funding mechanisms; health-related behaviour; and accountability.