Friday, January 30, 2004

Before we get a national health plan, we as a society need to agree upon a cost per life saved figure which will determine which procedures will be paid for and which will be rationed. This means that we will be coming up with a dollar figure for the worth of a human life. A radio story last night set some pretty broad brackets around this number. A public health expert pondered meningitis outbreaks among college freshmen. Discussing a vaccine against bacterial meningitis, he said that a general vaccination for all college freshmen would run as high as $20 million per life saved, clearly not worth it, according to the official. On the other hand, giving medicine to those close to a case of meningitis would be about $65 per life saved, well worth it. So, we are looking for a number between $65 and $20 million per life saved. Clearly, we have to zero in a little more, but its a start. I don't think I have ever before heard a public official give a figure for acceptible cost-effectiveness of health care. 2:51:23 PM    comment []