Doctors' decision-making, health economics and health policy

Question 1

why might new drugs not be available on NHS?

Answer 1

• not an efficacious treatment (don’t work that well)
• not cost-effective
• data/analysis on which to base decisions are not available

Question 2

what are the issues surrounding doctors’ decision making on treatments and health economics?

Answer 2

• Health economics has played a key role in informing our understanding of new drugs
• NICE policy on end of life treatment means that the generic measure of a QALY no longer applies universally, as there are many other important factors determining the use of an intervention

Question 3

Should doctors follow NICE guidelines?

Answer 3

• The context in which doctors practice medicine is complex
• Working in the NHS, doctors should account for the opportunity cost of their clinical decisions
• Doctors need to reconcile the health needs of individual patients and the health needs of the community in which they live, balancing these with available resources