Health policy
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We aimed to systematically review and assess published estimates of the cost of developing new drugs. ⋯ Despite three decades of research in this area, no published estimate of the cost of developing a drug can be considered a gold standard. Studies on this topic should be subjected to reasonable audit and disclosure of - at the very least - the drugs which authors purport to provide development cost estimates for.
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Population ageing and the increasing burden of chronic conditions challenge traditional metrics of assessing the efficacy of health care interventions and as a consequence policy and planning. Using chronic heart failure (CHF) as an exemplar this manuscript seeks to describe the importance of patient-reported outcomes to inform policy decisions. ⋯ Effective policy and planning is of health care services is dependent on the impact on the individual and their families. Epidemiological transitions and evolving treatment paradigms challenge traditional metrics of morbidity and mortality underscoring the importance of assessing PROs.
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Comparative Study
Medical technology procurement in Europe: a cross-country comparison of current practice and policy.
Procurement policy can influence the diffusion of medical devices into national health systems, but limited comparative evidence exists on how countries procure such technologies. This paper discusses the procurement of select medical devices across five countries (England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain) based on a review of published and grey literature and policy documents, as well as expert interviews. All countries have introduced various regulatory or policy measures that implicitly or explicitly influence device procurement, from lists of devices for purchase to changes in financing mechanisms. ⋯ While a number of stakeholder groups are involved in purchasing activities, a greater, more formalized role for physicians and governments is needed to ensure that technologies procured best meet patient needs and align with national health care priorities and other sectoral objectives. A general theme across all national procurement systems was a focus on cost-containment, but like other areas of technology policy (e.g., coverage), basing purchasing decisions on a broader range of criteria, such as quality and health outcomes, might better allow governments to achieve value for money and support patient access to beneficial innovations. More research is needed, however, to substantiate the role and influence of procurement on balancing the adoption and affordability of medical technologies.