How many lives is equity worth? A proposal for equity adjusted years of life saved.
OBJECTIVE
To present a formula for equity adjusted years of life saved (EYLS).


METHODS
A mailed questionnaire. The survey participants were given a scenario describing a trade off between a health maximization programme and a programme that is less efficient, but eliminates social inequalities.


METHODS
Swedish politicians responsible for health care in the county councils.


METHODS
A sample of 449 Swedish politicians responsible for health care in the county councils.


RESULTS
The principle of health maximization was rejected. Under certain conditions, the Swedish politicians are prepared to sacrifice 15 of 100 preventable deaths to achieve equity. Based on the results a formula for EYLS is presented.


CONCLUSIONS
An equity adjusted formula for years of life saved has been proposed, but must be developed and revised according to each country's specific conditions and value premises. In the future, such formulas could serve the purpose of incorporating explicit considerations of equity into cost effectiveness analyses.
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Umeå University, Sweden.
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Lindholm
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Rosén
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Emmelin
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012946:Social Welfare; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden