Commentary: Do clinicians need health economics?--a commentary on Beecham (2014)

Abstract

Clinical and educational professionals are increasingly involved in debates about priorities. Economic science is extending its ability to help us understand the true costs of our services and to decide, or advise, between alternatives in provision. Methodology of studies varies considerably, and results often vary too. Nevertheless, they have the great virtue of making explicit the complexities of service choices. Beecham’s review is not only for economists and researchers: clinicians need not only the lessons from the studies reviewed but more and better research.

Keywords: Health economics; child and adolescent mental health disorders; clinical decision making; cost and health outcomes; rational resource allocation.