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The purpose of this paper is to provide information about cost-effectiveness analysis and the roles of clinical pharmacologists generally in providing efficient health care. The paper highlights the potential consequences of ‘off-label prescribing’ and ‘indication creep’ behaviour given slower growth (or potential cuts) in the NHS budget. This paper highlights the key roles of clinical pharmacologists in delivering an efficient health care system when resources are allocated using cost-effectiveness analyses. It describes what cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is and how incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) are used to identify efficient options. After outlining the theoretical framework within which using CEA can promote the efficient allocation of the health care budget, it considers the place of disinvestment within achieving efficient resource allocation. Clinical pharmacologists are argued to be critical to providing improved population health under CEA-based resource allocation processes because of their roles in implementation and disinvestment. Given that the challenges facing the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) are likely to increase, this paper sets out the stark choices facing clinical pharmacologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the budgeting scheme adopted by the National Health Services in Great Britain. Impact of the fundholding technique to patient care; Appropriations for the health care system; Efficacy of the budget holding practices.

Despite assurances that primary health care services will not be cut in this year's budget, Christian Duffin reports on warnings that they will be squeezed in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on issues involving the financial crisis in the National Health Service (NHS). Discussion on the changes in funding and health services; Impact of internal market pressures on services offered in hospitals; Problems on manpower in providing adequate services.

The article presents an overview of budget cuts, freezes in public spending and increased borrowing of funds which are all expected to be seen within Great Britain's government beginning in 2009. The changes are all the result of a global recession which has impacted the government's finances. The impact the changes will have on the country's National Health Service is discussed.