The role of modelling in economic evaluation is explored by discussing, with examples, the uses of models. The expanded use of pragmatic clinical trials as an alternative to models is discussed. Some suggestions for good modelling practice are made. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Significant amounts of scarce resources are devoted to medical research, but there have been few attempts to assess whether the benefits to society of these investments exceed the costs. A method for undertaking such an assessment has been developed and applied retrospectively to the Diabetic...