QALY Maximization and the Social Optimum

GUILLEM LÓPEZ CASASNOVAS ^[1] ; JOSÉ LUIS PINTO PRADES ^[2]
1. [1] Universitat Pompeu Fabra
  
  Universitat Pompeu Fabra
  
  Barcelona, España
2. [2] Universidad de Navarra
  
  Universidad de Navarra
  
  Pamplona, España
Localización: Hacienda Pública Española / Review of Public Economics, ISSN 0210-1173, Nº 242, 2022, págs. 111-127
Idioma: inglés
Enlaces
- Texto completo

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.