Request and exercise economic evaluation

Cristina Adroher

Even before COVID-19, OECD countries allocated an average of 7.9% of their GDP to public spending on health (6.1% in Spain) [see Government at a Glance report, OECD 2019]. After pensions and social benefits, health spending is the most important item of public spending in all countries. For responsibility, transparency and common sense, it is important to know and analyze what health resources are used for and evaluate the results obtained thanks to your investment.

The crisis as an accelerator of latent changes

Cristina Adroher
 

It has been said by active and passive: a different society will emerge from this crisis, with profound changes in its values and practices. As for the healthcare system, there will be a time to analyze it, once the storm subsides but those of us in the backstage can go paving the way. Here are three proposals for aspects that I think could begin to be amended.

Who does what? We redefine the roles of healthcare professionals

Cristina Adroher

One of the ideas that have been more repeated recently in the health care sector is that there is a lack of professionals. A recently published study shows that in Catalonia, until next 2023, 2,571 doctors and 3,263 nurses will be lacking to cover the population's care needs. This lack is especially marked in certain specialities (primary care) and rural areas. Seemingly not enough professionals are being recruited to face the projected demographic change. It is estimated that by 2030, Spain will be the fourth country in the world with the highest average age in the population as a whole (50.1) and that in 2050, people over 65 will represent more than a third of the total Spanish population. It's reasonable to assume that the ageing of the population will lead to an increase in the need for health care and social resources.