Cost-effectiveness in health: consolidated research and contemporary challenges

Eric Kaun Dos Santos Silva,June Alisson Westarb Cruz,Sandro Marques,Thyago Proença De Moraes,Eduardo Damião Da Silva,Maria Alexandra Viegas Cortez Da Cunha

doi:10.1057/s41599-021-00940-5

Abstract

The need to develop alternatives to improve health assistance access and qualification was emergent and urgent even before the advent of Covid-19. Such demand is necessary in regard to both public and private systems. In this context, the theme of cost and effectiveness is technically adequate and viable to analyze these alternatives. Analyzing the history of research development on the topic and identifying its gaps is thus an essential step in facing this challenge. Therefore, the objective of this study was to modestly contribute to a bibliometric examination of scientific production based on the theme of cost-effectiveness to guide future research, despite the maturity of the theme, and as well as its future challenges. As a result, several essential aspects of the theoretical approach to the theme were observed, such as its conceptualization, purpose, and objective within public and private institutions, identifying its main authors, universities, reference countries, and funding institutions, authors’ relationship networks, and related themes. One of the most important factors identified is the absence of the theme applied to contemporary topics in health, such as telemedicine, telehealth, robotics, artificial intelligence, new drugs and medicines, and new healthcare protocols.

Highlights

The advancement of technology and applied science in health has developed rapidly in recent years; there is a need for investment in new treatments, equipment, and trained staff
This study demonstrates a brief conceptualization of what costeffectiveness analysis (CEA), considered a fundamental concept in health sector that has substantially progressed in the last three decades, is: a pragmatic indicator that simplifies the alternatives for administrators in the face of budget limitations (Drummond et al, 2015)
Despite the need for accessible and quality assistance in health sector, its demands incur the use of resources that are almost always scarce that is, both private and public institutions have limited resources (Pit et al, 2016)

Summary

Introduction

The advancement of technology and applied science in health has developed rapidly in recent years; there is a need for investment in new treatments, equipment, and trained staff. The monetary resources of health institutions, as well as of society, are scarce, demanding a search for constant resource maximization and efficient allocation. For this reason, health administrators and managers seek indicators that effectively corroborate the understanding of which strategies, technologies, protocols, and devices, among others, are most interesting to treat and/or offer to patients. Economic evaluation is indispensable in this context as it allows the inclusion of all essential information to choose the best option This creates a space to compare new technologies linked to the strategic purpose of improving healthcare access in several communities, whether from the Health Sector

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion