Jeff Richardson|John Wildman|Iain Robertson
A critique of the World Health Organisation's evaluation of health system performance
Monash University|Newcastle University|Monash University
world health organisations approach measurement health system efficiency briefly described four arguments presented first equity finance criterion evaluation health system generally objectives importance weights imposed upon countries secondly numerical value importance weights reflect true importance country rankings thirdly model combining different objectives single index system performance problematical alternative models shown alter system rankings statistical analysis replicated used support fourth argument contrary authors assertion methods cannot separate true inefficiency random error procedure also subject omitted variable bias econometric model countries poor predictive power subset oecd countries outperformed two simpler algorithms country rankings based upon model correspondingly unreliable concluded despite problems study landmark evolution system evaluation one requires significant revision