| Summary: | This report by the Committee of Experts on criteria for the management of waiting lists and waiting times for health care focuses on waiting for hospital treatment, both out-patient and in-patient, and waiting times to the start of treatment or examination in hospitals. It gives a number of reasons for waiting times and waiting lists: the need for care has increased; growing expectation and demand; new technologies leading to wider indications for treatment and an increase in demand; managerial or administrative shortcomings; logistical problems; absence of data; decreasing resources; medical practice - priority setting. The report recommends that the governments of member states review the existence and role of waiting lists and waiting times and where necessary, develop comprehensive and coherent strategies for the management of waiting lists and waiting times. These strategies should take into account the criteria set out in the appendix to the recommendation and the principle of equity in access to health care. The report also recommends that governments ensure that the recommendation is brought to the attention of all relevant actors and adopt the legislative or other measures necessary to give effect to the principles set out in the appendix to the recommendation. Annexes give; examples of minimum data sets from Spain and the UK and suggested outlines for a hospital waiting list policy and for establishing health registers.
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