Table 1.
Recommended discount rates for evaluation of health interventions in selected countries
| Year | Costs | Health outcomes | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA36 | 1996 | 3% | 3% | The listed and widely used US rates were recommended by an influential panel of US health economists, and the official, annually revised rates from the US Office of Management and Budget currently tend to be slightly lower at, for example, 2·8% in 200842 |
| Australia37 | 2002 | 5% | 5% | .. |
| UK38 | 2004 | 3·5% | 3·5% | In the period 2001–04, these rates were 6% for costs and 1·5% for health outcomes35, 43* |
| Netherlands39 | 2006 | 4% | 1·5% | In the period 1999–2006, these rates were 4% for both costs and health outcomes34* |
| Canada40 | 2006 | 5% | 5% | .. |
| New Zealand41 | 2007 | 3·5% | 3·5% | In the period 2005–07 these rates were 8% for both costs and health outcomes44 (and 10% in 1999–2005)45* |
*
These changes from previous recommendations illustrate the difference and volatility of opinions on this matter both within and between countries.