QALY Maximization and the Social Optimum

  1. GUILLEM LÓPEZ CASASNOVAS 1
  2. JOSÉ LUIS PINTO PRADES 2
  1. 1 Universitat Pompeu Fabra
    info

    Universitat Pompeu Fabra

    Barcelona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04n0g0b29

  2. 2 Universidad de Navarra
    info

    Universidad de Navarra

    Pamplona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02rxc7m23

Revista:
Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics

ISSN: 0210-1173

Año de publicación: 2022

Número: 242

Páginas: 111-127

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.7866/HPE-RPE.22.3.5 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Otras publicaciones en: Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics

Resumen

The quality-adjusted life year (QALY) approach as a paradigmatic measure of health outcomes is widely used in the economic evaluation of health policies and is even trying to be emulated in other public policy areas. The objective of this paper is to structure the arguments underlying the use of QALYs in cost-effectiveness analyses, which condition its applicability. To this effect, the paper intervenes in the unreasonable use of the approach in terms of its limitations when prioritizing health services. In short, the authors are generally in favor of the instrument but do not have blanket enthusiasm in support of it.

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Fuente de los datos: Dialnet