COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSES IN A CHANGING HEALTH-CARE ENVIRONMENT - NEW ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Rising health care expenditures have fuelled the demand for more infor mation about the impact of new medical products on costs and outcomes. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is one technique used to inform hea lth care decisionmakers. Recent analyses show an increase in the numbe r of CEAs published annually, although study quality remains unchanged . While advances in CEA methodology have been significant, further pro gress will require changes in the way we conduct basic clinical resear ch, and a greater commitment by groups not usually involved in these a nalyses.