How Much Can the NHS Afford to Spend to Save a Life or Avoid a Severe Disability

Abstract

A measure termed the "benefit:premium ratio" is proposed to determine whether certain screening programs or high technology procedures are too expensive for Britain's National Health Service (NHS). Given that the NHS budget is finite, some programs, though proven effective, violate the principle of equity and reduce the benefits available to all subscribers. Since programs such as cervical and breast cancer screening, and routine preoperative chest X-rays, are aimed at eliminating infrequent risks, their cost is higher than warranted for an insurance-based system of health care. On the other hand, procedures such as renal transplantation, blood pressure screening, and open heart surgery are affordable according to the benefit:premium formula. (KIE abstract)