Question

(Respond to this discussion)

This article discussed whether are not technological change in medicine provides benefits worth the cost. The authors maintain that technological change is bad only if the cost increases are greater than the benefit. One example used was the cost of options for heart attack survivors, compared to how many years of life they were afforded (known as the quality-adjusted life year (QALY) approach). The value of one year of life was determined to be $100,000. The benefit to society of an additional year of life for heart attack patients is $75,000. In this case, the authors would agree that technology was worth the cost.

I agree with the methodology used by the authors in this study to address the fact that sometimes the services we are paying for as consumers don't add much value to the quality of our lives. We see the idea of relating cost of service to the efficacy of said service permeating all throughout healthcare. One really good example is pharma. A popular trend for governments is locking pharma companies into price agreements based on how well their product is working for consumers. Still, the human element of emotion on paying for these for the services at the end of the day will often overpower cost/benefit analysis for any capable individual. Many of us wouldn't put a limit on how much a service that would extend our loved ones lives is worth.

Answer 1

In today's generation maximum number of people are dependent on technology whether it is education, medication or any other services. The upgradation of technology has brought in changes in the medical world. Previously there were less number of medicines which could actually serious a person's life. The technology that has been used for making new medication to improve and extend the lives of people has been beneficial to some extent.

According to the given report it is showing that technology has increased the cost of medicine in day to day life. Which is some how is not a plus point for the society. Yes, it has extended the life of a person for a year or more but the cost that is being paid it high. In some cases the medication does works and in some cases the medication doesn't.

For example - their were very few medication available for controlling diabetes. But after the technological advancement the pharma company has come out with medication which could control diabetes. Unlike diabetes their are any such diseases which are now being controlled or cured by proper medicine.

The society is concerned about weather the money that they are paying is worth or not. The only thing that can be said that is medicine cannot guarantee full recovery but it can assure that the medicine can help the patient to some extent their is not permanent solution to it.

Every medicine has a side effect. Therefore, the best suggestion is to live a healthy lifestyle and maintain a balance diet so that a person doesn't need to consume medicine or needs to spend huge amount of money for purchasing has expensive medicine. Something the money that is being paid is worth and sometimes not depending upon the condition that perticular person.