Assessing potential cures: are there distinctive elements of value beyond health gain?

Abstract

Assessing the value of potential cures can be challenging, as some have suggested that cures may offer distinctive benefits from noncurative treatments. We explore what these -\xa0previously unspecified\xa0-\xa0additional benefits may be. We suggest that three new elements of value seem distinctive to cures: liberation from the identity of being diseased, liberation from the stigma associated with the disease\xa0and\xa0liberation from the burden of ongoing therapy. However, including additional elements of value in health technology assessment may result in double counting and requires consideration of potential opportunity costs. We suggest health technology assessment should explore the relevance of these three elements of value and may have good reasons to -\xa0judiciously\xa0- integrate them through the deliberative process.