Recently, there has been an increasing drive to consider the cost effectiveness of healthcare. Since clinical trials usually examine disease-free survival without considering overall survival, it is difficult to determine which treatment is cost effective. At present, the overall survival time is estimated using a Markov model, and the quality-adjusted life year (QALY) is calculated by taking into account the quality and quantity of life lived. In Japan, the cost required to obtain 1 QALY is expected to be around 5 million yen, and drug prices are being influenced by policy. Indubitably, this type of health economics also has limitations and is not equal for everyone. Thus, collaboration is necessary to discuss better and more efficient medical care. It is hoped that this review of two diseases of hematopoietic malignancy will enhance our understanding of health economics.
Keywords: Fair-innings rule; Health economics; ICER; QALY.