Techniques to manage scarce healthcare resources continue to evolve in response to changing, growing and competing demands. Yet there is no standard definition in the priority setting literature of what might constitute the desired impact or success of resource management activities.

Health services planners have not for the most part used economic approaches. The production of the the 'Goals and Targets' documents by the NSW Department of Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health, Housing and Community Services respectively has further stimulated our interest in the...