Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3813

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Smith R.
New BMJ policy on economic evaluations.
BMJ 2002 Nov 16; 325:(7373):1124
http://www.pubmedcentral.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=12433741

Abstract:

The Editor states a new policy of not publishing economic evaluations of clinical trials unless the clinical results are submitted for publication as well. He cites as a common pattern which cannot continue the current edition carrying the economic evaluation of a trial of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms while the clinical results are published in The Lancet. Worry that sponsoring pharmaceutical companies may get the results they want and that economic evaluations have been of low quality has also been true of randomised trials. With a better understanding of methods and the arrival of guidelines, the quality of both randomised trials and economic evaluations is probably improving. Not all effective treatments can be afforded. It is a good thing to base choice on evidence supplied by economic evaluations. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Medical Research Council are cited in support. Understandably medical journals are more interested in straightforward clinical results, but anybody thinking of introducing a new treatment in a health system with limited resources must consider the costs as well as the benefits. The BMJ wants to keep clinical and economic results together.

Keywords:
*editorial/policy statement & guideline/United Kingdom/