Is mental health economics important in geriatric psychiatry in developing countries?

BACKGROUND

limited healthcare budgets and a seamless demand for resources suggests that a formula for allocating resources is needed. Economic evaluation can assist in developing this formula.

METHOD

mental health economic studies (cost minimisation, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, cost-benefit and cost of illness analysis) in geriatric psychiatry from developed and developed countries were examined along with all mental health economic studies in developed countries.

RESULTS

there were no health economic studies in geriatric psychiatry from developing countries against a background of many such studies in developed countries. There were a greater number of health economic studies in other areas of psychiatry in developing countries. Several reasons for the paucity of such studies, the feasibility of undertaking these studies and their significance are discussed.

CONCLUSION

mental health economic studies in geriatric psychiatry in developing countries are feasible, realistic and may well have an important part to play in the allocation of resources. Also, data sets necessary for such studies are emerging from many developing countries.