Questions of equity and efficiency have always plagued our national health-care system. Not all the billions spent in this area go for actual restoration of health. Many of the expenditures are for various procedures, tests, prescriptions, etc., that may or may not be necessary. How can we determine the optimum system of health care? Fuchs thinks that the application of the principles of economics can help in arriving at the right mix of market competition, government regulation, and professional control. He also devotes special attention to the impact of the increasing number of programs in health education and promotion. A topical analysis, which should be required reading for policymakers. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. - M. Balachandran, Univ. of Illinois Lib., Urbana-Champaign