Abstract
Consumer engagement in decisions about the funding of medicines is often framed as a good in and of itself and as an activity that should be universally encouraged. A common justification for calls for consumer engagement is that it enhances equity. In this paper we systematically critique this assumption. We show that consumer engagement may undermine equity as well as enhance it and show that a simple relationship cannot be assumed but must be justified and demonstrated. In concluding, we present a number of challenges that need to be overcome in order for consumer engagement to contribute to health technology assessment in a morally and politically sound manner.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 87-94 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Bioethical Inquiry |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Consumer engagement
- Equity
- Health technology assessment
- Medicines funding
- Patient rights