Informal care in economic evaluations

Abstract: The debate on the inclusion on informal care in economic evaluations has mainly focussed on the development, the application and sometimes the comparison of valuation methods. One can distinguish monetary valuation from non-monetary valuation methods. This paper gives an overview of the valuation methods that have been proposed to include informal care in economic evaluations: the proxy good method; the opportunity cost method; the contingent valuation method; conjoint measurement; health related quality of life; and well being. After the overview I would like to raise and discuss some unresolved issues related to the inclusion of informal care in economic evaluations.