Palliation of Functionally Single Ventricle Patients in Sub-Saharan Africa—Is It Justifiable?. Issue 2 (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Edwin, Frank
• Is Part Of: World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery. Volume 10:Issue 2(2019)
• Page Start: 171
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: CHD -- univentricular heart -- congenital heart disease (CHD) -- functionally univentricular heart -- health policy (includes government regulation) -- cost analysis; Pediatric cardiology -- Periodicals; Congenital heart disease in children -- Periodicals; Heart -- Abnormalities -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart Defects, Congenital -- surgery -- Periodicals; Cardiac Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Child -- Periodicals; Adult -- Periodicals; 618.9212
• DOI: 10.1177/2150135119830006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-1351

Abstract

Resource constraints in many sub-Saharan African countries undermine efforts to provide the full spectrum of pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. Palliation of the child born with functionally single ventricle is the lowest priority for policymakers when viewed from the perspective of cost-effectiveness. This commentary focuses on the relative importance of different criteria that policymakers and the general public consider important in setting health-care priorities as it relates to palliation of the patient with functionally single ventricle in sub-Saharan Africa. It argues the position that cost-effectiveness analysis tends to exclude those with high cost-to-treat illness, and decisions made on that basis alone are not acceptable to the general population on whose behalf those decisions are made.