Athanasakis, Kostas, Kyriopoulos, Ilias 
ORCID: 0000-0002-3932-8228 and Kyriopoulos, John
(2021)
Can we incorporate societal values in resource allocation decisions among disease categories? An empirical approach.
Value in Health Regional Issues, 25.
pp. 29-36.
ISSN 2212-1099
Abstract
Objectives: Historically, resource allocation decisions in healthcare are based on univariate approaches, inevitably overlooking value dimensions that are essential from a societal welfare maximization perspective. This article aims to present a wider perspective on decision making that incorporates societal values when prioritizing future resource allocation among disease areas. Methods: Sociotechnical application of multiple-criteria decision analysis with a set of criteria (value judgments) that are based on positive as well as normative dimensions of resource allocation. We use Greece as a case study. Societal value judgments were sourced via a multidisciplinary panel of experts who collectively provided criteria weights and scores for each alternative (16 disease categories, classified according to the Global Burden of Disease study) against each criterion. An additive value function provided the total value in priority preference for each alternative. Results: The criteria that were deemed relevant to the decision-making process and their respective relative weights were burden of disease (0.245), capacity to benefit (0.190), direct cost and projected changes in the next 5 years (0.160), indirect cost (0.132), intensity of unmet needs (0.109), incidence of catastrophic expenditure (0.091), and caring externalities (0.073). The additive value function revealed that the top 5 priorities in highest total value scores were neoplasms, circulatory diseases, injuries, neurologic diseases, and musculoskeletal diseases. Conclusions: Incorporation of societal value criteria in resource allocation decisions can highlight priorities and lead to different sets of planning decisions than solely demand-driven allocation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Publisher Copyright: © 2020 Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved. |
| Divisions: | Health Policy |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Feb 2024 16:48 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Dec 2024 02:28 |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/121985 |
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