ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to explore the context of increased international interest in priority setting in healthcare. It explores the concept of priority setting in a more detached and probing manner. When looking at priority setting in practice, especially where there have been attempts to involve the public, the first conclusion is that there is a clear need for the dissemination of information on available techniques, as there is considerable evidence of ‘reinvention of the wheel’ and use of inappropriate techniques. New Zealand has developed a value-based framework for considering whether services should be provided or not. New Zealand is often regarded as having taken a pioneering approach to priority setting. Certainly, New Zealand’s health system has been active in priority setting throughout the 1990s and other countries have sought to learn from its initiatives. W. Edgar provides an overview of the position of priority setting within the New Zealand health system.
