The 'Inverse Care Law' proposed by Julian Tudor Hart states that:
- A Countries with higher healthcare budgets have worse health outcomes
- B Preventive care investments produce inversely proportional reductions in curative care costs
- C Higher population density inversely predicts the availability of primary healthcare infrastructure
- D The availability of good medical care tends to vary inversely with the need for it in the population served ✓
Explanation
Julian Tudor Hart's 'Inverse Care Law' (1971) states: 'The availability of good medical care tends to vary inversely with the need for it in the population served.' This means populations with the greatest medical need (poor, marginalised, rural communities) have the least access to quality healthcare, while those with least need (affluent, urban populations) access the most resources. This concept underpins equity-focused health planning, universal health coverage, and redistributive health policies. It remains a guiding principle for social determinants of health and health systems strengthening.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
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