What should be included in the assessment of health care needs?

• A. Health care needs of individuals, families, and community
• B. Market share of local clinics
• C. Surgical outcomes in private hospitals
• D. Pharmaceutical pricing

Answer: (D)

Assessing health care needs centers on understanding what services people require and the barriers they face in obtaining care, across individuals, families, and the community. This means evaluating health status, disease burden, determinants of health, access to care, and how services are utilized to identify gaps and prioritize resources. The other areas—market share of clinics, surgical outcomes in hospitals, and pharmaceutical pricing—touch on market dynamics, care quality, and cost, respectively, rather than the essential task of determining what care is needed and how to meet those needs. So, the assessment should focus on the needs of individuals, families, and the community as a whole.