News on Health Economics
Source: Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, 2001
New! Copenhagen Consensus 2008 - Diseases
Developing countries not only suffer much more than the industrialized world from diseases such as malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS, but also have to face an increasing burden of heart disease, cancer and other non-communicable diseases. Targeted, cost-effective investment in low-cost interventions and capacity building could save about 4 million lives annually and a healthier population, generating additional large indirect economic benefits. This paper identifies 7 key priority interventions in terms of their cost-effectiveness, the size of the disease burden they address and other criteria. Possible to download both the whole paper and executive summary.
New! World Health Report 2007 - A Safer Future
The report marks a turning point in the history of public health, and signals what could be one of the biggest advances in health security in half a century. It shows how the world is at increasing risk of disease outbreaks, epidemics, industrial accidents, natural disasters and other health emergencies which can rapidly become threats to global public health security. The report explains how the revised International Health Regulations (2005), which came into force this year, helps countries to work together to identify risks and act to contain and control them. The regulations are needed because no single country, regardless of capability or wealth, can protect itself from outbreaks and other hazards without the cooperation of others. The report says the prospect of a safer future is within reach - and that this is both a collective aspiration and a mutual responsibility.
New! 6th World Congress on Health Economics: Explorations in Health
The 6th World Congress was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from Sunday, 8 July to Wednesday, 11 July 2007.
The World Health Report 2005 - making every mother and child count
The World Health Report 2005 - Make Every Mother and Child Count, says that this year almost 11 million children under five years of age will die from causes that are largely preventable. Among them are 4 million babies who will not survive the first month of life. At the same time, more than half a million women will die in pregnancy, childbirth or soon after. The report says that reducing this toll in line with the Millennium Development Goals depends largely on every mother and every child having the right to access to health care from pregnancy through childbirth, the neonatal period and childhood.
Purchasing Pharmaceuticals - HNP Discussion Paper, World Bank.
This World Bank HNP Discussion Paper by U. Enemark, A. Alban and E.S.C Vazquez discusses the resource allocation and purchasing of pharmaceuticals as a key component of cost-effective and equitable health care delivery.
This task force paper is a part of the UN Millennium Project and underscores the vital need to increase the availability, affordability, and appropriate use of medicines in developing countries. The working group proposes concrete and practical steps to increase incentives for research for priority diseases of developing countries, improve procurement and distribution, strengthen primary health systems, develop more human resources, and increase health funding. These are all necessary components of a comprehensive strategy to improve access to essential medicine in developing countries.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization - focus on Economics of Immunization.
In the September issue of the World Health Organization a special focus is put on the economics of immunization. The issue includes articles on the role of GAVI in financing immunization; Cost-effectiveness of tetanus immunization activities; Effects of public–private partnership on immunization; Coverage and costs of childhood immunizations in Cameroon; Determinants of personal demand for an AIDS vaccine in Uganda; and Economics of eradication vs control of infectious diseases among others.
Analysis of avoidable mortality highlights the importance of communicable disease, which
represents around 90% of all avoidable mortality in almost all age/sex groups.
The paper focuses on three opportunities: Malaria control, HIV/AIDS control, and the strengthening of basic health services.
Health Economics in Development: A new book by Philip Musgrove, published by The World Bank
Health Economics in Development explains basic concepts, for the benefit of non-economists working in public health and further develops some of those concepts to show how they can be applied to real situations. These include how the burden of ill health is measured, how economic thinking helps judge the proper roles of the state and the market in health, ways to understand and measure equity, and the characteristics of sound and equitable financing for health.
Why do the sick not utilise health care? The case of Zambia (Health Economics, vol. 12, issue 9)
The study from Zambia shows that utilisation of health care is influenced by income, insurance, type of illness and access to variables such as distance and owning a vehicle.
Macroeconomics and Health: Investing in Health for Economic Development
Report of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health