Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) may be an important aid to public health decision making but, with some notable exceptions, its use and impact at the level of individual countries is limited. A number of reasons may account for this. Among them are technical shortcomings associated with the generation of current economic evidence, political expediency, social preferences, and systemic barriers to implementation.
The application of CEA provides a new economic evidence base. It also provides for underlying methodological developments, concerning the cost-effectiveness of a range of health interventions for leading causes of, and risk factors for, disease. CEA can be tailored to the specific context of individual communities by adjustment to the quantity and unit prices of intervention inputs (costs) or the coverage, efficacy, and adherence rates of interventions (effectiveness).
For this Discussion, you explore the concept of cost effectiveness analysis. Then, explain how this might be used to measure overall public health benefit.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post a description of the individual community and intervention you selected. Then, explain how you would tailor the CEA of that community to the intervention and a brief description of cost-effectiveness analysis. Then, explain how cost-effectiveness analysis might be used to measure overall public health benefit. Explain whether it is more cost-effective to allocate resources for one public health program versus another.
Evaluate the economic concepts and principles behind the allocation of investing resources for the implementation of your selected public health initiative