Dictionary
The Dictionary provides concise definitions of health economics terms, arranged alphabetically for quick reference. Use it to understand unfamiliar terminology or confirm the meaning of a specific term.
S
- System Equity
- The degree to which a health system distributes its benefits, costs, and access fairly, regardless of income or geography.
- System Perspective
- An analytic viewpoint considering costs and outcomes across an entire health system rather than a single institution, programme, or payer.
- System Quality
- The overall degree to which an entire health system achieves desired outcomes consistent with professional knowledge, delivered efficiently and equitably.
- System Resilience
- A health system's capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a significant shock, such as a disease outbreak, while continuing essential services.
- System Sustainability
- The capacity of a health system's financing, workforce, and infrastructure to be maintained long term without unsustainable debt or disruptive cuts.
T
- Technology Appraisal
- A specific type of assessment evaluating whether a technology represents an appropriate use of health system resources, resulting in a funding recommendation.
- Technology Horizon Scanning
- The application of horizon scanning methods to identify and track emerging technologies likely to significantly affect a health system's future.
- Tracer Indicator
- A specific, carefully selected health service indicator used to represent broader health system performance across a defined domain.
U
- Unitary System
- A health system structure in which a single, centralised government authority holds primary responsibility for policy, financing, and often delivery.