Question

Questiorn Consider the hypothetical information in Figure 1 relating to the utilization rates for coronary artery bypass surgery in Toronto and Vancouver Figure 1 Utilization Rates for Coronary Artery Bypass Surge 35 30 # surgeries per 10,000 25 20 15 Toronto ロVancouver 10 Need for Surgery (1 = low; 5 = high) True/False/Uncertain. Explain.] Figure 1 clearly illustrates there is horizontal equity and vertical equitv in the utilization of health care services between Toronto and Vancouver?

Answer 1

For horizontal equity : FALSE because horizontal equity requires that those with equal need get equal treatment . Horizontal inequity is present whenever those with equal need receive differing level of care. The figure clearly demonstrates horizontal inequity , within each need category (I.e among those with equal need ) those in Toronto are more likely to receive the treatment than those in Vancouver. This violates the principle of horizontal equity I.e there is horizontal inequity in the utilization of health care.

For vertical equity : TRUE because vertical equity requires that those with differing levels of need receive appropriately different levels of care.In the figure, for both Toronto and Vancouver ,those with greater needs are more likely to receive the treatment than are those with lower needs. Hence, the pattern of utilization of health care is consistent with vertical equity.