Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparrow
It may be worth mentioning NICE (National Institute for Clinical Health and Excellence) - they decide what treatments the NHS can offer.
I'm not sure if insurance systems like the ones in the US would offer a broader range of treatments; but NICE sometimes make controversial decisions that the NHS won't offer some treatments, because the benefits don't outweigh the costs.
http://www.pharmatimes.com/UKNews/article.aspx?id=16113
This may become more of an issue as the recession bites. |
Any healthcare system has to do a "cost/benefit analysis" of treatments. If spending $10,000 a day would keep someone alive, but they would die anyway after a month, I suspect that not many insurance schemes would consider that an effective use of their clients' money. Treatments that merely "extend" life rather than provide a "cure" for a condition are especially hard to justify financially.