Foundations of health economics

Foundation & Impact explores the core principles of health economics, its importance, and significant achievements. Furthermore, we closely examine how OHE has shaped the field’s development over time.

In this section, we introduce the fundamental principles of health economics. Here, you can explore the core concepts of health economics and gain insights into the current leading trends within the field.

What is health economics?

Health economics is a branch of economics that primarily concerns allocating and using scarce resources in the healthcare system and improving health across society. Economic theory and research methods are applied to understand and address issues related to health and healthcare. This can include how health care is financed, how providers are compensated, the impact of health care policy on access to care and overall health-related outcomes, individual health-related behaviours and providers’ decision-making, and the regulation of life sciences and healthcare markets.

Furthermore, the determinants and value of health and the cost-effectiveness of health technologies are all areas of interest in health economics. The assessment of health technologies is taken primarily from a perspective of efficiency, whereby scarce resources are allocated to maximise the overall benefit. Equity and the fair distribution of resources have always been a concern of health economics but are increasingly explicitly considered in technology assessment debates.

Dictionary of Health Economics

The Dictionary of Health Economics serves as an invaluable resource, offering concise explanations of key terms and concepts within the realm of health economics. Designed to enhance understanding, this resource acts as a go-to guide for professionals, students, and enthusiasts alike, providing clarity and insight into the complex language of health economics. Coming soon…