Health State Valuation using Generic and Disease Specific Multi Attribute Utility Instruments in a Representative Sri Lankan Population

Abstract

For any country it is impossible to afford all the health programmes, medicines and technologies that might be available to improve the health of the people. Thus, some systematic method of prioritisation is required and resources must be concentrated where health improvement is maximized. Health improvement is twofold: length of life and quality of life for the community. The concept of Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) encompasses both, and is the preferred outcome measure in health resource allocation decisions. Quality of life is valued by the preference weights given for different health states. These weights, called utility weights, are accrued from the preference of people using preference elicitation methods. However, it is doubtful whether utility weights mostly used in high income countries are applicable to Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Socio-economic and cultural variances demand country specific utility weights.