JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES

HEALTH ECONOMICS CASE STUDY

(PERFORMANCE TASK)

NUR C305-301N: COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING 2

Submitted by GROUP #6:

Cauzon, Joshua
Fabila, Mery Grace
Magada, Alcent James
Satairapan, Michelle
Tana, Louise Mairile

Professor:
TEODORA T. MACALINCAG, RN, MPH
CASE SCENARIO:

The COVID-19 pandemic swept throughout the country, causing damage to the
healthcare system. Because the virus is highly contagious, there has been an increase
in hospitalizations and critically ill individuals. However, due to a lack of resources,
such as hospital beds, ventilators, and healthcare professionals, the healthcare system
is unprepared to handle the unexpected surge of cases. Hospitals are overburdened
with patients suffering from severe respiratory discomfort caused by the virus. The
hospital's capacity is being exceeded by the influx of patients, resulting in overcrowded
emergency rooms and wards. Critical resources such as ventilators, personal
protective equipment (PPE), and life-saving pharmaceuticals such as antivirals are in
short supply. These supplies are increasingly depleting in healthcare facilities.
Hospitals must develop triage protocols to determine which patients receive life-saving
interventions such as ventilator support. Guidelines for allocating these resources are
developed by medical practitioners in collaboration with ethicists and public health
experts. Age, underlying health issues, and the possibility of survival are all possible
criteria. Doctors and nurses must make difficult judgments. They must evaluate
patients and direct resources to those who have the best chance of recovery, denying
others access to potentially life-saving treatments. These decisions create ethical
quandaries. Medical practitioners must balance maximizing overall benefits with
protecting individual rights and fairness in resource allocation. Healthcare employees
face enormous stress as a result of working long hours with inadequate resources,
resulting in physical and mental burnout. The community is feeling the effects as
people become more conscious of healthcare resource restrictions. This causes
increased anxiety and concern, particularly among people who may not receive
necessary care. In response to the crisis, public health officials employ severe
measures to minimize virus spread, such as social distancing, mask regulations, and
lockdowns, to reduce the load on the hospital system.
1. What health care needs/supplies/commodities are currently in the state of
rationing?

- Ventilators: Because there are so many critically ill patients suffering from
severe respiratory distress, there would very certainly be a ventilator
shortage and rationing.

- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): To protect themselves and prevent

the virus from spreading, healthcare workers must wear the appropriate
PPE could be rationed.

- Pharmaceuticals: Important drugs and antiviral therapy utilized in the

treatment of COVID-19 patients are in high demand, allocation decisions
may be made based on patient availability and needs.

- Hospital beds: As the number of hospitalizations rises, access to

available beds may be limited, and admission decisions may be made
based on how seriously ill the patient is and his or her likelihood of
survival.

- Testing Kits: Access to COVID-19 testing might be limited, with priority

given to those showing symptoms or having known exposures.

- Life-Saving Interventions: Triage protocols, as you mentioned, may

determine who receives life-saving interventions like ventilator support,
and these decisions could be made based on criteria such as age,
underlying health issues, and the potential for survival.
 2. In health care rationing who will decide? Who will receive more or receive
less?
In terms of decision-making, regarding healthcare rationing, including the
allocation of resources and determining who receives more or less care, is typically
made by healthcare professionals and policymakers. These decisions are guided by
ethical principles, fair judgment, and established protocols, making it so that everyone
receives proper and equal treatment in certain areas that are in most and less need.
Especially during a public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, these decisions
are very crucial and critical to make.
To name a few factors and decision-making bodies regarding healthcare
rationing during the pandemic, Healthcare Professionals are the top deciders. Frontline
healthcare workers, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers, play a
significant role in deciding how to allocate resources such as ventilators, ICU beds, and
medications. They based their decisions on medical criteria, assessing the severity of a
patient’s condition and their likelihood of recovery. Another is Hospitals and other
Healthcare Facilities; they may develop their triage protocols to determine how to
allocate resources within their area or facilities, following ethical guidelines and
prioritizing patients based on certain factors such as medical need and survivability. Of
course, the Government is also one of the factors; they may issue certain guidelines or
directives to healthcare facilities to standardize decision-making throughout the
country, addressing resource distribution, prioritization of specific groups, and ethical
considerations. Finally, the Public themselves are one of the key bodies in the
decision-making; they may get involved through community engagement or
consultation processes, ensuring transparency and fairness in resource distribution
throughout their respective communities.
It is essential to note that principles of medical ethics such as beneficence,
justice, autonomy, and non-maleficence, guide these decisions for ethical
considerations and are crucial in ensuring that health care rationing is done in a just
and equitable manner. The people in charge should also be transparent and subject to
regular review to ensure fairness and equity. Public communication and engagement
are crucial to maintaining trust and understanding among the population.
Ultimately, healthcare rationing during the pandemic was a complicated and
challenging process that required careful consideration of medical evidence, ethical
principles, and the specific situation of the country, requiring great effort to balance the
needs of the population with the available resources while upholding ethical standards
and minimizing harm.
 Healthcare rationing decisions can vary by country and healthcare system.
Typically, these decisions are made by a combination of government agencies,
healthcare professionals, and ethicists. The goal is to allocate limited resources, like
hospital beds or life-saving treatments, fairly and efficiently.
Healthcare rationing is a complex and often controversial process that requires
careful consideration of medical, ethical, and economic factors. The specific policies
and criteria can vary from one healthcare system to another.

References

Alshammari, F., & Karger, S. (2020, August 26). Nurses on the Frontline against the COVID-19

Pandemic: An Integrative Review. NCBI. Retrieved September 10, 2023, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7490501/