Hard decisions about fundamental values.
The lead paper provides a helpful review of the implications of last-dollar and first-dollar reimbursement of pharmaceuticals. Yet, the issue is extremely complex, and there are no easy solutions. Ultimately, the benefits and costs of drugs will force us as a society to make some very hard decisions about fundamental human values such as access, equity and affordability.
Laupacis
Andreas
A
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Division of General Internal Medicine, Sunnybrook and Women's Health Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto,Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
D002170:Canada; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D016527:Drug Costs; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D007356:Insurance, Pharmaceutical Services; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D011050:Policy Making