Table 1 Comparison of the reimbursement process for three healthcare services
| Â | England | Australia | Israel |
|---|---|---|---|
Who involved in decision-making | NICE—consisting of patient and health providers, academics, pharmaceutical and medical devices industries | PBAC—consisting of health care professionals, academics and consumer representatives | The National Advisory Committee for the Basket of Health Services—consisting of health care professionals, health ministry and health fund representatives, economists, hospital managers, lawyers, religious leaders and public representatives |
Founded | 1999 | 1960 | 1995 |
Threshold | Cost-effectiveness QALY £20,000–£30,000 (approximately US $24,000 to $36,000) | No information | No threshold |
How long do appraisals take? | 9–12 months | 4–5 months | Committee meets once a year with a pre-determined budget, (the whole process take 3–4 months) |
Other pathways or exemptions for cancer drugs | Exemptions, The Cancer Drugs Fund | No information | None |
Recommendations made to | National Health Service | Australian Ministry of Health | Israel Ministry of Health |
Time from application for first marketing approval to inclusion decision | 23Â months | No information | 9Â months |
Out of pocket cost to oncology patients | Free | Free for patients receiving treatment in hospital. Co-payment for treatments purchased and received in the community | Free |