Abstract
The Italian National Healthcare Service decision makers are currently facing economic and financial problems, in particular related to the budget impact of HCV infection and the correct planning of the lim-ited available resources. Two are the main difficul-ties: the estimate of HCV population, and the evolu-tion of budget for the treatments innovation.The primary objective of the present contribution was the identification of the methodological ap-proaches available to decision makers, within the context of HCV, outlining strengths and weaknesses.Three main methodological approaches were iden-tified: i) health economics evaluations; ii) budget impact models and iii) the multidimensional models such as the Health Technology Assessment.The cost-effectiveness analysis is not able to provide complete and unambiguous indications for a deci-sion maker, in terms of short and long term sustain-ability of planning and control activities; the budget impact analysis is not useful as information for the patients. The two methods, however, are comple-mentary to each other: the use of multidimensional and multidisciplinary approaches could guarantee all the information useful for the implementation of strategies that could heal the largest number of people.