Health Economics

Question 0

What is ‘cost effectiveness analysis’?

Answer 0

Used to compare drugs or interventions that have a common health outcome eg blood pressure reduction. More commonly used then cost minimisation analysis.

Question 1

What is ‘cost minimisation analysis’? Is it often relevant?

Answer 1

The outcomes of different treatments are assumed to be equivalent so the CHEAPEST one is chosen. Not often relevant - outcomes are rarely equivalent.

Question 2

Home much per QALY does NICE normally approve .

How much per QALY requires an ‘increasingly stronger case’?

Answer 2

1. 20K

2. 30K

Question 3

Give three criticisms of the use of QUALYs

Answer 3

Do not distribute resources according to need, but according to the benefits gained per unit of cost
Technical problems with their calculations
Controversy over the values they embody