[Economic aspects of prevention. Efficiency and structure of the health care system]

The structure of the health care system has been examined, the health care sector being defined as all measures taken to promote and preserve good health. A review of the international literature came to the following conclusions:--The correlation between medical care and health status is at most very limited.--The empirical evidence suggests that efficient preventive programs--both for primary and for secondary prevention--would be possible.--We therefore come to the conclusion that the division between medical care and prevention is not optimal and that furthering prevention at the cost of medical care would increase the efficiency of the health care sector. Conclusive statements concerning the efficiency of additional preventive measures are not possible with the research undertaken to date.