Concept of health and disease: horizontal equity: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Concept of health and disease: horizontal equity

Sample item

A state scheme provides the same free dialysis sessions to every patient with end-stage kidney disease, regardless of caste, income or address. Which equity principle does this illustrate?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Horizontal equity

Horizontal equity means people with equal need receive equal treatment. Vertical equity means people with unequal needs or means are treated unequally in a suitable way, for example by subsidising the poor more. Efficiency concepts concern use of resources, not fairness between persons.

Option by option

  • A. Horizontal equity (correct)

    Correct. Equal care for patients with equal need is horizontal equity.

  • B. Allocative efficiency

    Allocative efficiency is about directing resources to the mix of services giving most benefit, not equal treatment of equals.

  • C. Technical efficiency

    Technical efficiency is about producing a given output at least cost, not about fairness.

  • D. Vertical equity

    Vertical equity would give more support to the poorer or sicker, which is not what this uniform scheme does.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Horizontal equity. Horizontal equity means people with equal need receive equal treatment.

Why is "Allocative efficiency" not the answer?

Allocative efficiency is about directing resources to the mix of services giving most benefit, not equal treatment of equals.

Why is "Technical efficiency" not the answer?

Technical efficiency is about producing a given output at least cost, not about fairness.

Why is "Vertical equity" not the answer?

Vertical equity would give more support to the poorer or sicker, which is not what this uniform scheme does.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Concept of health and disease: horizontal equity in PSM. Vertical equity means people with unequal needs or means are treated unequally in a suitable way, for example by subsidising the poor more. Efficiency concepts concern use of resources, not fairness between persons.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Concept of health and disease: horizontal equity?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.