Prioritizing Resource Allocation between Children and the Elderly

Running head: HEALTH ECONOMICS
HEALTH ECONOMICS
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1HEALTH ECONOMICS
Introduction:
In the medical system, it is not surprising that there has been much discussion regarding
the allocation of resources and choosing the deserving person for the limited resources (1). The
resource allocation is a much-discussed topic that concerns the right distribution of the resources
driven by high cost and pressure from the state. Medical supplies have been witnessing a steep
rise in price for it is present in a limited amount in society (2). Many researchers have proposed
various solutions based on multiple aspects, however, the topic is debatable, and experts view it
from different perspectives. Also, the issue is not only questionable but also about setting the
priority. On what basis patients should be prioritized to become more eligible to receive medical
resources than the other patient (3). Although healthcare providers demands for more resources
as per the judiciary one of the key factors of health system performance is the decision of
determining appropriate priority. Under the broad aspect of resource distribution, one of the
branch topics is prioritizing available resources for the care of children versus care for elderly.
This essay presents a perspective of prioritizing resource allocation between children and the
elderly. The essay also discusses the ethical issues that may arise in the decision making of
resource allocation for the care of the elderly and the care of children.
Priority setting and resource allocation:
All the health organizations across the world are required to set priorities to allocate
resources among the patients within the limited funding available to them. The health
organizations have the responsibility to meet the health needs of the population as best as
possible (4). However, due to limited resources, it is often not possible to provide the pre-defined

2HEALTH ECONOMICS
population with every need. The issue has grabbed the attention of various healthcare
researchers, and the problems are studied worldwide to bring a solution to it. Resources are
scarce and limited, and there are more claims of resources than actual resources presence to the
healthcare organization (5). Therefore, the healthcare organizations are continually demanding
for more supplies from the nation and the nation constantly pressurize the healthcare to make
appropriate decisions while allocating the limited resources. Also, it is of very much significance
to say that there will always be the need to prioritize before allocating resources regardless of
any amount of resources (6). The decision makers have various grounds on which they decide
the priority for allocating resources. Researches have shown that the decisions makers were often
assisted for priority setting and many times the allocation in the health organizations were
conducted on the basis of political or historical patterns that interprets as the sub-optimal use of
resources.
Age as a factor:
Age has been one of the criteria that is used as the basis of decision making for
prioritizing health services. A patient’s age is often considered as the main criteria when the
health experts decide on the distribution of resources (7). There arises the question that is asking
reasons for preference of elderly patients over the young ones or the younger patients over the
elderly. The problem is for giving priority to age as a criterion that would determine the
allocation of medical services. The biological age gets more importance than the chronological
age frequently (8). However, assuming age as the factor determining the decision which age
group should be given the priority? Also, why should the elderly patients be preferred than the
young ones or the young patients be preferred over the elderly? Also, how would one prioritize

3HEALTH ECONOMICS
while establishing the medical services and resources depending on the age? It is a critical as
well as a crucial determinant to discuss and come to a concrete conclusion since along with
limited medical resources there are many more aspects related to it (9).
Decision making:
Health is often considered as the fundamental right where everyone is liable and equally
deserve the right the health (10). Although age is used as a criterion to make decisions on the
healthcare distribution, it is considered inappropriate by many debaters. According to the
commenters, a person’s age cannot define the value of life. Moreover, regulating access on the
basis of age is against the philosophy of egalitarian followed in society, the principle of all
human life is sacred and equally deserving of protection (11). Allocating health resources cannot
be based on age for the principle of a natural lifespan. The goal of establishing an age that is
acceptable after which limiting health care should be able to explain the reason for creating
homogeneity in the heterogeneous society. A person’s age cannot determine the value of the
person’s life. It is hard to develop a generalized idea of calculating human life value as the
contribution made by the older citizens varies to a large extent. It is difficult to assume the elder
citizen’s contribution towards the society and to make any attempt to value the human life on
age, and natural lifespan would not be possible. Also, in the healthcare field, a significant portion
is covered by the elderly only as older citizens are prone to illness and disability. The elderly
seek the healthcare more frequently than the children, and it is to be accepted that the elderly are
equally liable to claim for healthcare resources (12).