Health Infrastructure – Norm versus state performance: The national norm is 100 hospital beds per thousand population, but this state has 150 beds per thousand. Determine which conclusions follow: (I) The national norm is appropriate; (II) The state’s health system is taking adequate care in this regard.

Given data

• Norm: 100 beds/1000 population nationally.
• State: 150 beds/1000 population.
• Conclusions: (I) The national norm is appropriate; (II) The state is doing adequately on this metric.

Concept/Approach
From a comparison, we can infer adequacy relative to the benchmark, but cannot validate the appropriateness of the benchmark itself.

Step-by-step evaluation
• I requires an evaluative judgment about the national norm’s correctness; the premise provides no evidence of the norm’s adequacy (medical needs vary), so I does not follow.• II follows: the state exceeds the national yardstick in bed availability, indicating adequate care with respect to this indicator.

Final Answer
Only conclusion II follows.