The popularity of the term has made it elastic, stretching to encompass a wide variety of arrangements. Assessment of the place of such partnerships thus requires the academic's favorite pastime - defining our terms. In a study for the National Forum on Health, we noted that there are three main dimensions to healthcare systems1.
Delivery refers to how services are organized and provided.
Allocation is the link between financing and delivery, and refers to the way in which resources flow from those who have the funds to those who provide the services. Examples included Europe's sickness funds and Canada's hospitals. We refer the reader to the full study for a more complete explanation of the rationale behind the following two conclusions about such medically necessary care, which can be stated in simple terms. One popular approach is the market, in which supply and demand are balanced through price signals. This model makes clear policy recommendations.