Resource allocation case

Resource allocation

Imagine that you are in charge of a hospital and you have to select patients for treatment. There are 6 patients who need treatment. You cannot treat all of them because of lack of resources. Patient characteristics are given in the table below. There is some uncertainty concerning the data, but assume that the data are as given in the table.

1) Based on the information given in the table, agree on a prioritised list of patients (from 1-6). Keep in mind that the 3 patients that are given the lowest priority will not be treated.

2) Discuss your reasons for the prioritization agreed on

Patient characteristics
Disease Ischemic Heart Disease Malaria, adult Suicide prevention after suicide attempt Acute Diarrhoeal Disease in Children HIV/AIDS Cataract surgery
5 year case fatality without treatment 10% 1% 10% 0.7% 100% 0%
5 year case fatality with treatment 5% 0.1% 5% 0.2% 100% 0%
Improvement in Quality of life with treatment + ++ ++ + +++ +++
Cost per disability adjusted life year 30.000 300 10.000 10 10.000 25
Married yes no yes no no no
Children 4 no 4 no no 2

Disease	Ischemic Heart Disease	Malaria, adult	Suicide prevention after suicide attempt	Acute Diarrhoeal Disease in Children	HIV/AIDS	Cataract surgery
5 year case fatality without treatment	10%	1%	10%	0.7%	100%	0%
5 year case fatality with treatment	5%	0.1%	5%	0.2%	100%	0%
Improvement in Quality of life with treatment	+	++	++	+	+++	+++
Cost per disability adjusted life year	30.000	300	10.000	10	10.000	25
Married	yes	no	yes	no	no	no
Children	4	no	4	no	no	2