Social value of a set of proposals for the ideal approach of multiple sclerosis within the Spanish National Health System: a social return on investment study

• Published in: BMC health services research 2020-02, Vol.20 (1), p.84-84, Article 84
• Main Authors: Moral Torres, Ester, Fernández Fernández, Óscar, Carrascal Rueda, Pedro, Ruiz-Beato, Elena, Estella Pérez, Elvira, Manzanares Estrada, Rita, Gómez-García, Teresa, Jiménez, Margarita, Hidalgo-Vega, Álvaro, Merino, María
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Access to information; Age; Analysis; Caregivers; Chronic illnesses; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Disabilities; Disease management; Diseases; Experts; Finance; Health care industry; Health care reform; Health services; Humans; Investments; Literature reviews; Medical personnel; Medical research; Mental depression; Morbidity; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis - economics; Multiple Sclerosis - therapy; Narratives; National Health Programs - economics; Neurology; Patients; Pharmacy; Physical therapy; Primary care; Proposals; Proxy; Quality of life; Questionnaires; Return on investment; Social return on investment; Social value; Social Values; Spain; SROI; Teamwork (Workplace)
• ISSN: 1472-6963; 1472-6963
• DOI: 10.1186/s12913-020-4946-8

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease that in many cases produces disability, having a high impact in patients' lives, reducing significantly their quality of life. The aim of this study was to agree on a set of proposals to improve the current management of MS within the Spanish National Health System (SNHS) and apply the Social Return on Investment (SROI) method to measure the potential social impact these proposals would create. A Multidisciplinary Working Team of nine experts, with representation from the main stakeholders regarding MS, was set up to agree on a set of proposals to improve the management of MS. A forecast SROI analysis was carried out, with a one-year timeframe. Data sources included an expert consultation, a narrative literature review and a survey to 532 MS patients. We estimated the required investment of a hypothetical implementation, as well as the potential social value that it could create. We calculated outcomes in monetary units and we measured intangible outcomes through financial proxies. The proposed ideal approach revealed that there are still unmet needs related to MS that can be addressed within the SNHS. Investment would amount to 148 million € and social return to 272 million €, so each euro invested could yield almost €2 of social return. This study could guide health interventions, resulting in money savings for the SNHS and increases in patients' quality of life.