1. Pressing Research Needs to Advance an Equitable Health Policy
Nalaka Mendis
University of Colombo Sri Lanka Conference on
International Collaborative Research and Health Ethics 
Jakarta, Indonesia
29 November-01 December 2005

2. Health Care Universal Values
Equity of access
Quality
Efficiency
Human Rights

3. Health Care Importance of equity in Sri Lanka
Extent of reference to equity in
Public documents
Education/training activities
Public debate
Professional discourse

4. Equitable Health Policy or
Equitable Access to Health Care
Issues on focus
Equity
Access to Needs of
Services Individual

5. Key concepts General problems
Understanding
Definition
Measurement
Comparison

6. Health needs Concept and Definition
Normative need
Felt need
Expressed need
Comparative need
Pretreatment health
Capacity to benefit

7. Health needs Concept and Definition
This can be either
What an individual requires to achieve or maintain health
An estimation of the programmes required to improve the health of populations.

8. Access to Health Care Concept and Definition
Ability to secure a
Specified set of health care services
At a specified level of quality
Subject to specified maximum level of inconvenience/cost
While in possession of a specified amount of information

9. Concept and Definition Equity Principles
Equal access to health care for those in equal need of health care
Equal utilization of health care for those in equal need of health care
Equal (or rather equitable)health outcomes ( as measured by QALE)
Horizontal equity
Vertical equity

10. Advancing an equitable Health Policy areas needing study
Supply side
Regulation
Resources
Orgasnisation
Services
Funding
Demand side
Population variables

11. Advancing an equitable Health Policy,research needs- Regulation
Expression given to the concept in Policy
Policy frame work to realize equity
Continuing monitoring mechanisms
Responsible agency

12. Advancing an equitable Health Policy, research needs- Resources
Distribution of
Facilities
Manpower
Equipment
Services

13. Advancing an equitable Health Policy, research needs- organisation
Decentralisation
Community participation

14. Advancing an equitable Health Policy, research needs- funding
Social insurance
General taxation
Third party payment 
Out of pocket payment

15. Advancing an equitable Health Policy, research needs- individual/ community variable
Income Geography
Ethnicity Education Gender Knowledge
Social class Preference

16. Advancing an equitable Health Policy,research needs Summary
Value attached to equity
Need to clearly define concepts
Define, improve and secure equity of access
Factors influencing equity
supply side, demand side
Identification of priority areas for research