Policy, Organisation and Incentives in Health Systems
Development of effective health system policy requires an understanding of organisational structures, funding streams, and incentive mechanisms that shape how healthcare interventions and innovations are adopted and utilised.
OHE conducts an extensive programme of research on health system policies, organisation, incentives and cross-sectoral dynamics. Our work aims to inform policy-making globally in healthcare, social care and public health, in pursuit of better health, equity, and efficiency.
This work typically looks at the wider healthcare ecosystem (or parts of the system) rather than focusing on specific health technologies, considering both health outcomes and broader socioeconomic impacts.
Examples of research topics that this theme addresses include
- Drivers of productivity and efficiency in health systems.
- The funding of healthcare and public health and the roles of the public, private and charitable sectors.
- The intrinsic and extrinsic factors that incentivise agents in health systems, and how these yield certain behaviours and outcomes.
- The broader socioeconomic value of health interventions to the wider economy, with a particular focus on prevention (including vaccination).
Key objective for this research theme
To produce research that improves how healthcare is organised, funded and delivered to achieve better health, equity, and efficiency
OHE’s policy positions
Sustainable health systems should appropriately incentivise and deliver evidence-based, cost-effective interventions that are responsive to patient and societal needs, and promote the advancement of healthier populations.
Our latest content on this theme
Five unanswered questions from the UK’s Renewed Women’s Health Strategy
The UK’s Renewed Women’s Health Strategy sets out an ambitious plan. But can the NHS deliver it?
The cost of inaction on LDL cholesterol
This Insight is based on the WHA79 panel discussion “Lowering Cholesterol, Increasing Impact: The Case for Earlier Action to Address the CV Epidemic”, co-organised by OHE and MSD, at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, May 2026.
Addressing the systemic challenges of underinvestment in prevention
Prevention of ill-health is an underexploited tool for protecting health systems and societies. It offers the potential to curb increasing demand for healthcare services, increase participation…
Evaluating novel antimicrobials within EU joint clinical assessments
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health and economic threat. It is responsible for an additional 9.5 million hospital days and costs across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) economies €11.7 billion annually.