At the beginning of the 1970’s, in the USA, and a little later in other countries, an increase in expenditure on health care was increased. Therefore, preceded by research, attempts at health service cost reduction were made. Most experts claim that health care costs reduction should be parallel to providing citizens with the minimum health security and equal access to health services.

The author describes the problem of identifying health priorities, discussed in Poland for over a decade and referred to as the minimum of health services guaranteed. The author gives examples of the countries where a scientific analysis of problems related to priority identification was conducted and its results were used. He also quotes the recommendations generally accepted in this field and claims that knowledge on these subjects is necessary in the process of reforming the health care in our country