The Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association invited Ivar Sønbø Kristiansen and Christoffer Bugge to author an editorial on the costs and resource use during the last year of life. They raised two important issues: Is it reasonable that old people’s health care cost during the last year of life is lower compared to younger individuals? Should we set priorities the last year of life differently than today? They explored the arguments without drawing firm conclusions. They also pointed to the paradox that society is concerned about the economic consequences of aging while at the same time devoting resources to prolong life. They concluded that the Parliament is unlikely to increase health care budgets to the extent that they cover aging as well as technology innovations. Norwegian health care will likely be forced to undertake major changes in future years.
