Utilization of Cost/Benefit Analysis in Planning Prevention Programs

Summary. Benefit‐cost analysis is a type of policy analysis still in a developing stage, particularly with respect to investments in people. Policy analysts, policy makers, and other users concur this type of analysis cannot be a sufficient basis for public policy decisions. For health programs, it is an approach that can supplement medical and epidemiologic bases for public investment decisions. It is a useful tool where an understanding of health problems is deficient in some areas. This paper discusses some examples of the use of benefit‐cost analysis in planning disease prevention programs and the explicit consideration to the quality of life benefits associated with reduced disease.