Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Public Opinion on Healthcare Costs Reduction, pt.3

Today a couple more insights from the Harvard School of Public Health report. Despite the overall differences in general public perception of healthcare systems and governments healthcare-related decisions among nationalities, the judgement of specific decisions is common for all of them. All investigated groups, but Britons, agree with the statement that many patients are given unnecessary high-cost prescription drugs and treatments, but at the same time, as a result of cost-reductions, such drugs and treatments are withhold from numerous patients which might benefit from them.

In (your country) today, how often do you think (the government or health insurance plans withhold/the national health service withholds) high-cost (prescription drugs/medical or surgical treatments) from some people who might benefit from them in order to save money?


People also strongly oppose any policies restricting access to high-cost prescription drugs and treatments, including situations when there's no evidence they bring better outcomes than available cheaper options, unless less expensive alternatives have been shown to be more effective. This suggests that in public opinion we just simply deserve more advanced treatments even if their costs don't account for their effectiveness. Does it mean we believe in higher prices= better value more than rational arguments?

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