Health Economic Assessment: Applications, Rationale, Methodology and Common Mistakes

Economic assessments are useful to compare the effects and costs of different health interventions, with the purpose to determine the best alternative for resource distribution in health institutions. To this end, it is highly important for the economic analysis to be consistent with the context where it is carried out, and to follow the established methodology on the subject. Using as an example a recently published cost-effectiveness analysis that compares panitumumab with bevacizumab and cetuximab in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in Mexico, we will show how to develop a transparent, fair, and useful economic assessment for decision makers.