Distance, population density, finance, and staff are the four main determinants of medical care, particularly in rural areas. Each community should ideally possess its own health worker, but in the absence of this, the most effective and economical care will be provided by mobile services allied to a network of health centres. An efficient outpatient service at the periphery will then allow inpatient care to be concentrated in fewer, large efficient hospitals. Statistical data on hospital attendance, comparative castings for different types of health care delivery, and some practical notes on operation of the mobile clinics are presented. |