Adequacy of Supply | If services are available and supply is adequate, then patients have the opportunity to obtain health care. In this situation a population may 'have access' to health care. |
Barriers to Access | ‘Gaining access’ may be dependent on barriers, including financial, organisational and social or cultural barriers, as well as adequacy of supply. |
Effectiveness | Services must be clinically effective if access to health care is to lead to access to ‘satisfactory health outcomes'. |
Equity | Equity may be measured in terms of availability, utilisation or outcomes. Both horizontal (equal treatment for equal groups) and vertical (unequal treatment of unequal groups) equity require consideration. |