Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T07:25:41.740Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Allocating Resources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

Michael F. Drummond
Affiliation:
University of Birmingham

Extract

This article reviews the methods of economic evaluation of health technology. The different forms of evaluation are outlined and the importance of assessing costs and benefits at the margin stressed. The approaches used by economists to analyze priorities for health technologies are discussed and a number of key managerial and policy issues identified. It is concluded that, while further methodological improvements can be made, a clear methodology for economic evaluation of health technologies has been established. However, attention needs to be paid to the timeliness and relevance of economic evaluation in order to ensure its maximum impact

Type
Special Section: Alternative Methods for Assessing Technology, Part II
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Banta, H. D., Behney, C. J., & Willems, J. S.Towards rational technology in medicine. New York: Springer, 1981.Google Scholar
Banta, H. D. Clinical and epidemiological research on new technologies: A role for economic appraisal? In Drummond, M. F. (ed.), Economic appraisal of health technology in the European Community. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987, 93102.Google Scholar
Boyle, M. H., Torrance, G. W., Sinclair, J. C., & Horwood, S. P.Economic evaluation of neonatal intensive care of very low birth-weight infants. New England Journal of Medicine, 1983, 308, 1330–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Buxton, M. J. Problems in economic appraisal of new health technology: The evaluation of heart transplants in the UK. In Stocking, B. (ed.), Expensive health technologies: Regulatory and administrative systems in Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987, 103–18.Google Scholar
Buxton, M. J.Managing new technology: Economics research and practical decisions. Health Services Management Research, 1988. 1, 4350.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Department of Health and Social Security. Breast cancer screening. Report of a working group chaired by Professor Sir Patrick Forrest. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 19.Google Scholar
Drummond, M. F.Economic evaluation and the rational diffusion and use of health technology. Health Policy, 1987, 7, 309–24.Google Scholar
Drummond, M. FEC project on the methodology of economic appraisal of health technology: Proposals for concerted action. Brussels: Commission of the European Community, COMAC-HSR, 1988.Google Scholar
Drummond, M. F., & Hutton, J. Economic appraisal of health technology in the United Kingdom. In Drummond, M. F. (ed.), Economic appraisal of health technology in the European Community. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987, 239–53.Google Scholar
Drummond, M. F, Ludbrook, A., Lowson, K. V., & Steele, A.Studies in economic appraisal in health care, vol 2. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986.Google Scholar
Drummond, M. F., Stoddart, G. L., & Torrance, G. W.Methods for the economic evaluation of health care programmes. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987.Google Scholar
Drummond, M. F., Teeling, Smith G., & Wells, N. J.Economic evaluation in the development of medicines. London: Office of Health Economics, 1988.Google Scholar
Eddy, D. M.Screening for cancer: Theory, practice and design. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1980.Google Scholar
Eddy, D. M. Screening for cancer in adults. In Evered, D. & Whalen, J. (eds.), The value ofpreventive medicine. Ciba Foundation Symposium 110 (Chairman: A. G. Shaper). London: Pitman, 1988.Google Scholar
Feeny, D., Guyatt, G., & Tugwell, P. (eds.). Health care technology: Effectiveness, efficiency and public policy. Halifax, NS: Institute of Research in Public Policy, 1986.Google Scholar
Haan, G. H. M. G., & Rutten, F. F. H. Economic appraisal, health service planning and budgetary management for health technologies. In Drummond, M. F. (ed.), Economic appraisal of health technology in the European Community. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987, 135–46.Google Scholar
Hull, R. D., Hirsh, J., Sackett, D. L., & Stoddart, G. L.Cost-effectiveness of clinical diagnosis, venography and non-invasive testing in patients with symptomatic deep-vein thrombosis. New England Journal of Medicine. 1981, 304, 1561–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Larson, E. B., Omenn, G. S., & Lewis, H.Diagnostic evaluation of headache. Impact of computerized tomography and cost-effectiveness. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1980, 243, 359–62.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Royal College of Radiologists. Costs and benefits of skull radiography for head injury. Lancet, 1981, ii, 791–95.Google Scholar
Russell, I. T., Devlin, H. B., Fell, M. et al. , Day case surgery for hernias and haemorrhoids: A clinical, social and economic evaluation. Lancet, 1977, i, 844–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Russell, L. B.Is prevention better than cure? Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution, 1986.Google Scholar
Sisk, J.Discussion: Drummond's “Resource allocation decisions in health care: a role for quality of life assessment?” Journal of Chronic Diseases, 1987, 40, 617–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thompson, M. S.Willingness to pay and accept risks to cure chronic disease. American Journal of Public Health. 1986, 76, 392–96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Torrance, G. W.Utility approach to measuring health-related quality of life. Journal of Chronic Diseases, 1987, 40, 593600.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Torrance, G. W., & Zipursky, A.Cost-effectiveness of antepartum prevention of Rh immunization. Clinics in Perinatology. 1984, 11, 267–81.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Warner, K. E., & Luce, B. R.Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analysis in health care. Ann Arbor, MI: Health Administration Press, 1982.Google Scholar
Weisbrod, B. A., Test, M. A., & Stein, L. I.Alternative to mental hospital treatment. II. Economic benefit – cost analysis. Archives of General Psychiatry. 1980, 37, 400–5.Google Scholar
Williams, A. H.Economics of coronary artery bypass grafting. British Medical Journal, 1985, 291, 326–29.Google Scholar
Williams, A. H. Screening for risk of coronary heart disease: Is it a wise use of resources? In Oliver, M., Ashley-Miller, M., & Wood, D. (eds.), Screening for risk of coronary heart disease. London: Wiley, 1986.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (Regional Office for Europe). Guidelines for health care practice in relation to cost-effectiveness. Copenhagen: WHO, 1981.Google Scholar