How do these costs fit in with what we spend on other things in society?
Last year, in TIME magazine, Sir Michael Rawlins, chairman of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence stated the following (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1888006,00.html#ixzz13Z0tUMuG):
“ Our Department of Transport, for instance, has a cost-per-life-saved threshold for new road schemes of about 1.5 million GBP per life, or around 30,000 GBP per life year gained. The judgment of our health economists is that somewhere in the region of 20,000-30,000 GBP per quality-adjusted life year is the threshold, but it's not a strict limit. “
This would convert to 1.58 X 20,000 GBP = $31,600 USD to $47,400 USD. Thus, $16,000 to $33,000per year of life saved would fall within or even below this range.
While estimates of what governments are willing to pay for are generally about $50,000 per year of life saved, hemodialysis costs approximately $129,000 per year of life saved. (http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1808049,00.html) </s>