Concepts and elements to be considered in the analysis of the costs of medical care

Abstract

This paper results from a revision of conceptual and methodological aspects related to the evaluation of the costs of health services. Thus it develops some concepts and the methodology in relation to the function of production and the inputs for health care. From this perspective, although the economic evaluation gives us important information for decision making in one single dimension of decision, this is relevant nonetheless. This helps us to make a rational use of the resources for health. Thus, the article suggests that we integrate the clinical evaluation with the economic one, in order to make a global evaluation of all components of medical care and to build a comprehensive knowledge. This in turn is relevant to discuss substantial problems of the health services, such as their effectiveness, quality or equity. Finally this conceptual and methodological reflection emphasizes two of the main problems associated with the evaluation of the costs of health services, viz. problems in the determination of the units of measurement and functions of production, as well as problems of internal and external interdependence in the determination of the health care costs.

Key words: health services, costs of medical care, clinical evaluation, economic evaluation.