ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the extent to which unmet health care needs measurements can be linked to the technical capability of the National Center for Health Statistics, and to the evolving role of the Health Systems Agencies under PL 93 - 641, the National Health Planning and Resources Development Act. It discusses the extent to which such factual data can lead to health policy based on priority setting, assessment of needs, and cost containment. Unmet needs indicators, as one type of sociomedical indicators, are being developed because of the relative inadequacy of traditional morbidity, mortality and other biomedical data to indicate population health levels and effects of differing kinds of health programs. Unmet needs look at "deficits" in care where care is required and relate to society's capacity to care for the sick. The quantification of unmet needs may be more helpful in many instances than concern with health status.
