No abstract

Introduction: the magnitude of the cost of open angle primary glaucoma stems from the health care and the reduction of the patient's quality of life. Objectives: to estimate the open angle primary glaucoma costs in those patients seen at the glaucoma service of "Salvador Allende" hospital during 2010. Methods: a retrospective cost description-type study, which applied the methodological approach to the disease costs, was carried out in the field of health economic assessment. The universe of study was the total number of cases diagnosed as open angle primary glaucoma and seen at the glaucoma service during the first quarter of 2011 and those which had been treated during 2010. The costs were given in Cuban pesos, according to the 2010 rate. The study was conducted on the basis of the perspectives of the institution and those of the patients. Results: the study comprised 110 patients aged 60.3 years. The average cost of assistance to a patient at the hospital was 230.99 Cuban pesos. The average cost for the patients was 290.10 Cuban pesos in the analyzed period. Conclusions: the glaucoma service has the indispensable scientific and technical resources for the care of patients. The costs of the disease for the patients are afforded by their own incomes.

No abstract

The aim of the paper is to describe the importance and need for the implementation of the economic evaluation of health technologies for increasing efficiency in the field of health in Cuba, as well as exposing the implementation of this activity in the National Health System (NHS) and projections of work being developed in the country. We performed a literature review to search for information on this subject at national and international level to gauge the incorporation of this discipline as an element to increase efficiency in the Cuban health system. The economic evaluation applied to the health field in Cuba is considered an aspect that contributes to the efficient use of resources. Although the costs of new technology are large, their value in terms of efficiency can identify the most effective and less costly ways to support the process of decision-making. In conclusion, the economic evaluation of health technologies has become a necessity for the NHS, since its incorporation can guide decision-making to increase the efficiency of health interventions.

The objective of this study was to conduct a literature review to assess the importance of teacher training on the economic assessment for professionals working in the Cuban National Health Service (NHS). The assessment will be used as a working tool to guide the process of decision-making in the health sector and to increase the efficiency of different actions to be undertaken in the country. We conducted a literature review to search comprehensive information about this topic at the national and international levels with the intention of incorporating this discipline as a component of crucial importance for the pursuit of efficiency in the Cuban health-care system. Teacher training in economic evaluation applied to the field of health is considered an aspect that improves the rational use of different health technologies, which implies an efficient use of resources for the NHS in Cuba. Although the costs of these therapies are becoming more substantial, their assessment in terms of efficiency allows us to identify effective and less costly interventions for the health sector in Cuba by defining the best strategies to support the process of decision-making. We can confirm that the teacher training in economic evaluation of health professionals for the NHS has been a pressing need. The goal is to develop an economic culture that enables the personnel to show an increased efficiency in performing their normal duties and tasks when developing health interventions that are organized and developed in the country.