The Impersonalisation of the Sick
Let's assume that Patient x has a serious, life-threatening condition.
• If he continues receiving standard treatment he will live for 1 year and his quality of life will be 0.4 (0 or below = worst possible health, 1= best possible health)
• If he receives the new drug he will live for 1 year 3 months (1.25 years), with a quality of life of 0.6.
The new treatment is compared with standard care in terms of the QALYs gained:
• Standard treatment: 1 (year’s extra life) x 0.4 = 0.4 QALY
• New treatment: 1.25 (1 year, 3 months extra life) x 0.6 = 0.75 QALY
Therefore, the new treatment leads to 0.35 additional QALYs (that is: 0.75 -0.4 QALY = 0.35 QALYs).
• The cost of the new drug is assumed to be £10,000, standard treatment costs £3000.
The difference in treatment costs (£7000) is divided by the QALYs gained (0.35) to calculate the cost per QALY. So the new treatment would cost £20,000 per QALY.
The new treatment is compared with standard care in terms of the QALYs gained:
• Standard treatment: 1 (year’s extra life) x 0.4 = 0.4 QALY
• New treatment: 1.25 (1 year, 3 months extra life) x 0.6 = 0.75 QALY
Therefore, the new treatment leads to 0.35 additional QALYs (that is: 0.75 -0.4 QALY = 0.35 QALYs).
• The cost of the new drug is assumed to be £10,000, standard treatment costs £3000.
The difference in treatment costs (£7000) is divided by the QALYs gained (0.35) to calculate the cost per QALY. So the new treatment would cost £20,000 per QALY."
Got that? If you need a drug that costs over more than 43,000 dollars, you are SOOL. If you need brain surgery and it is over 43,000 dollars, you are SOOL.
Your life...in pounds and pence.
Let's assume that Patient x has a serious, life-threatening condition.
• If he continues receiving standard treatment he will live for 1 year and his quality of life will be 0.4 (0 or below = worst possible health, 1= best possible health)
• If he receives the new drug he will live for 1 year 3 months (1.25 years), with a quality of life of 0.6.
The new treatment is compared with standard care in terms of the QALYs gained:
• Standard treatment: 1 (year’s extra life) x 0.4 = 0.4 QALY
• New treatment: 1.25 (1 year, 3 months extra life) x 0.6 = 0.75 QALY
Therefore, the new treatment leads to 0.35 additional QALYs (that is: 0.75 -0.4 QALY = 0.35 QALYs).
• The cost of the new drug is assumed to be £10,000, standard treatment costs £3000.
The difference in treatment costs (£7000) is divided by the QALYs gained (0.35) to calculate the cost per QALY. So the new treatment would cost £20,000 per QALY.
The new treatment is compared with standard care in terms of the QALYs gained:
• Standard treatment: 1 (year’s extra life) x 0.4 = 0.4 QALY
• New treatment: 1.25 (1 year, 3 months extra life) x 0.6 = 0.75 QALY
Therefore, the new treatment leads to 0.35 additional QALYs (that is: 0.75 -0.4 QALY = 0.35 QALYs).
• The cost of the new drug is assumed to be £10,000, standard treatment costs £3000.
The difference in treatment costs (£7000) is divided by the QALYs gained (0.35) to calculate the cost per QALY. So the new treatment would cost £20,000 per QALY."
Got that? If you need a drug that costs over more than 43,000 dollars, you are SOOL. If you need brain surgery and it is over 43,000 dollars, you are SOOL.
Your life...in pounds and pence.
