Development of the European Healthcare and Social Cost Database (EU HCSCD) for use in economic evaluation of healthcare programs

Abstract

Introduction Costs are one of the critical factors for the transferability of the results in health technology assessment and economic evaluation. The objective is to develop a cost database at the European level to facilitate cross-border cost comparisons in different settings and explains the factors that lead to differences in healthcare costs in different countries, taking into account the differences between health systems and other factors. Methodology The core of the database is compounded of three main categories (primary resources, composite goods and services, and complex processes and interventions) organized into 13 subcategories. A number of elements providing as detailed information of unit cost as possible were identified in order to mitigate the problem of comparability. Consortium partners validated both the database structure and selected costing items. Results Twenty-seven costing items included in the EU HCSCD resulted in 1450 unit costs when taking into account all item subtypes and countries. Cross-country differences in costs are driven by the type of resources included in the costing items (e.g., overhead costs in case of complex processes and interventions) or by the variety of existing brands and/or models and the type of unit value in most of the primary resources. Conclusion The EU HCSCD is the only public unit healthcare and social cost database at European level that gather data on unit costs and explains differences in costs across countries. Its maintenance and regular data updating will enable establishing specific systems for generating and recording information that will meet many of its current limitations.

Healthcare and Epidemiological Surveillance Costs of Hepatitis A Outbreaks in Spain in Regions with and without Universal Hepatitis A Vaccination of Children during 2010-2018

“…The hospitalization costs due to hepatitis A outbreaks during 2010–2018 were calculated for each year using the following data: (1) the number of hospitalized individuals by age group, (2) the median hospital stay for each age group in patients with hepatitis A in Spain from 2005 to 2008 [ 15 ] and (3) the tariff per hospital day in the normal ward in Spain from 2010 to 2018 [ 16 ]. The tariffs per hospital day for different years (2010 to 2018) were determined from the average tariff of EUR 727.66 per hospital day in the normal ward in Spain in 2019 [ 17 ] and the consumer price index variation for health services in Spain from 2010 to 2018 [ 16 , 18 ].…”

“…It was assumed that all hepatitis A cases had received two medical visits with complementary tests. The prices per medical visit for different years from 2010 to 2018 were determined from the average public price of EUR 67.66 per medical visit with complementary tests in Spain in 2019 [ 17 ] and the consumer price index variation for health services in Spain from 2010 to 2018 [ 16 , 18 ].…”

Vibration Therapy for Health Promotion

“…This form of mechanotransduction would be responsible for a number of physiological processes in the body, including proprioception, effects on bone (2,6,7), effects on bone mineral density (6) and in the metabolism (3,4), endocrine (2,3,4), and immunity systems (2,7), muscle (6) and vital functions (1,5), balance (2,6,7), and functionality (2,6,7).…”

“…As a consequence, everyone must be prepared to be challenged and use what technological advances have to offer, providing better living conditions for all people who need help to improve their health condition and quality of life. Knowledge about potential benefits and limitations will guide the best way to take advantage of new technologies [1][2][3]. Thus, the establishment of safety-related criteria that must be followed together with the update in the level of evidence of related publications will guide the effectiveness of the procedure with the safe use of the technique without adverse events [4][5][6][7].…”

“…Figure 5.Some targets of the mechanical vibration in the body related to proprioception(2,6,7), effects on bone mineral density(6) and in the metabolism(3,4), endocrine(2,3,4), and immunity systems(2,7), muscle(6) and vital functions(1,5), balance(2,6,7), and functionality(2,6,7).…”