Use Evidence-based Medicine to Raise the Productivity of Healthcare in Aging Populations

By Michael Stolpe

Abstract

Healthcare productivity is a concern in all countries with aging populations. Amid rapid change in epidemiology and technological opportunities, solidarity-based health systems can no longer decide how much to spend without an efficient and ethically consistent process to decide what to buy. Using evidence-based medicine (EBM) as a guide would put spending on a more economically and politically sustainable path. As many countries lack sufficient expertise and experience with EBM, a coordinated global initiative should help evaluate new and existing services and technologies, suggest policies to foster the use of EBM locally and improve incentives for biomedical innovation globally.