PhD defence L.M. (Linda) de Vries

Brief summary of the doctoral thesis:

In a world with limited healthcare budgets, cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) are essential for making informed decisions about the allocation of resources in healthcare. This dissertation focuses on evaluating and improving CEA methods, with particular attention to the implications of extending length of life, non-medical consumption, and the evaluation of infectious disease surveillance.

An important contribution is the identification of bottlenecks in current CEA methods, especially in how the costs and benefits of extending length of life and non-medical consumption are incorporated. The research provides updated and more comprehensive estimates of these costs, making it easier to include these in evaluations. Examples of incorporating these costs into existing CEAs have additionally shown that inclusion can influence reimbursement decisions. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that the impact of non-medical consumption is insufficiently accounted for in current analyses, preventing a complete assessment of the overall cost-effectiveness and societal value of healthcare interventions. Further research is needed to do this appropriately. Finally, it has been shown that methods for evaluating infectious disease surveillance require adjustments to accommodate the specific characteristics of this type of intervention, such as high uncertainty and impact at both patient and system levels.

In conclusion, this dissertation contributes to the optimization of CEA methods, aiming to provide a broader and more accurate picture of the cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions. This, to make better choices regarding the allocation of available resources for healthcare.