Universal coverage with rising healthcare costs; health outcomes research value in decision-making in Latin America

Abstract

This is a short summary of the two plenary sessions held at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Latin American Conference in Mexico City (Mexico) in September 2011, with 477 registrants and 235 accepted abstract submissions. The first asked how attainable universal coverage is in the face of rising costs of health technologies; and the second considered the value of health outcomes research to decision-makers. This conference provided a scientific forum where researchers, health technology producers and public and private decision-makers shared their experiences and research in the field of health economic evaluations, health technology assessment and patient-reported outcomes/health-related quality of life studies. It was the third biennial regional meeting in Latin America, the next one being in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 2013.

Keywords::

• healthcare costs
• health technology assessment
• Latin America
• outcomes research
• universal coverage

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.