A new proposal for priority setting in Norway: Open and fair

Area of Science:

• Health economics
• Public health policy
• Healthcare priority setting

Background:

• Global health systems face increasing demand.
• Norway's health sector is also experiencing rising pressures.
• The third Norwegian Committee on Priority Setting in the Health Sector has proposed a new framework.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present and analyze the new comprehensive framework for health care priority setting in Norway.
• To outline the core principles and criteria of the proposed framework.
• To discuss the implications for resource allocation and fairness in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• The paper discusses a proposed framework for priority setting.
• The framework is centered on three main criteria: health benefit, resource use, and health loss.
• Cost-effectiveness is integrated, with differentiated thresholds based on health loss to ensure fairness.

Main Results:

• A new framework for health care priority setting in Norway is proposed.
• The framework aims to maximize healthy life years for all, distributed fairly.
• It integrates health benefit, resource efficiency, and a special concern for the worse-off through the health-loss criterion.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework offers a structured approach to health care priority setting in Norway.
• It balances efficiency with equity, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Implementation involves practical tools and public participation, aiming for political consensus.