Ethical Issues in Improving Access to Life-Saving Drugs through Health Performance Indicators

Abstract

The goal of my thesis is to expand our knowledge of issues relating to measuring health. In particular I identify elements of population health metrics that may limit access to life saving treatment from those that need it most. Health metrics are indicators employed to assess changes in population health. They can measure a wide variety of factors, from the burden of a specific disease or effectiveness of treatments, to identifying cultural, social or political (to name a few) factors influencing population health. The “population” in question may also refer to individuals, citizens of a state, a single gender, race or economic class, or any other combination of groups, as the study requires. My thesis analyses possible objections to existing health metrics in two specific areas: 1) the definition and description of health states, and 2) the elicitation of preferences. It concludes by identifying barriers in both of these areas, and offering suggestions as to how such barriers can be addressed and mitigated as part of efforts to improve access to life saving treatments for all.