How to face the rising costs of healthcare?

• Autores: Arce, Hugo E.
• Año de publicación: 2021
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: ARTICULO; ATENCION MEDICA; COSTOS
• Institución: Fundación H. A. Barceló

Fil: Arce, Hugo E. Instituto Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud. Fundación Barceló; Argentina.
In view of the uncontrolled increase in the costs of therapeutic innovations, the health systems face serious difficulties in maintaining the sustainability of their funding sources. In Argentina, one alternative is the implementation of a reinsurance for “low incidence and high cost” diseases classified as “catastrophic”. So far, the healthcare systems managed by trade unions and compulsory social insurance have only implemented this reinsurance for specifically-defined diseases and treatments. The cost estimate of a universal reinsurance premium for all forms of coverage requires very complex calculations, whose structure is exemplified. Another approach is the analysis of the scientific consistency of therapeutic innovations, as performed by health technology assessment agencies, whose examples in Europe and Latin America are mentioned. However, the prospects are difficult for all countries, in view of the demands for legalization expected to be presented by beneficiaries of protection systems and the arguments interposed by those responsible for providing the claimed benefits.