Informing resource allocation decision making: Economic evaluations of pharmacogenetic tests

In some countries, economic evaluations now have a prominent role and provide information to use in resource allocation decisions for health care technologies and interventions. This editorial describes the importance of understanding the degree and extent of uncertainty in a published economic evaluation. Some countries have diverted considerable resources toward health technology assessments (HTAs) and appraisals of health care interventions using deliberative decision-making processes. However, given the scarcity of health care resources on a global scale, there is a growing need to support other countries that do not have the skill base or considerable resources needed to conduct their own HTAs and appraisal of the evidence. As a minimum, it is vital that individual countries are able to understand the relevance of published economic evaluation of an intervention, such as a pharmacogenetic test, to their own practice. Careful appraisal of the relevance of the findings is crucial before decision makers decide that a particular pharmacogenetic test is an appropriate use of scarce health care resources in their country.