Office of Health Economics

Publication from the Archives In final draft guidance, NICE recommended a new treatment for patients living with a painful skin disease, Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) - how much do you know about it? Hidradenitis Suppurativa is a chronic skin disease that affects at least 200,000 people in the United Kingdom. This condition, characterised by painful lumps and abscesses, not only takes a toll on physical health but also has an impact on emotional well-being and quality of life. HS is under-recognised by the general public and primary care physicians, leading to an average diagnostic delay of 10 years. This delay has significant consequences for mental health, with depression and anxiety twice as common in people with HS than in the general population. But that is not all. Our research estimates that HS imposes an annual monetary impact of around £3.83 billion on the UK. A shortage of dermatologists, specialist nurses, and psych dermatology practitioners in the NHS exacerbates the problem. This results in avoidable healthcare costs and health outcomes for both the NHS and individuals with HS. Some of the challenges people living with HS face: 🔹Mental Health 🔹Time and Financial Costs 🔹Impact on Relationships and Employment 🔹Comorbidities Find out more from Nadine Henderson, Chris Skedgel and Claud Theakston here: https://lnkd.in/eSijHu8P #hidradenitissuppurativa #chronicillness #mentalhealth #healthcare #nhs #dermatology #patientcare #healtheconomics

NHS Tech Transformation: A Double-Edged Sword?   The UK government is developing a 10-Year Health Plan, with technology at its core. Digital innovations—from AI-driven diagnostics to smart hospitals—have the potential to improve efficiency and enhance patient outcomes. But do they always deliver on cost-effectiveness?   Matthias Hofer points out:    "It might be a high cost if you just look at the cost of the implementation of that innovation, but it can lead to improvements in other areas of healthcare management that you don't factor in."   Technology can lead to additional costs and demands, but when adopted adequately it can also create efficiencies and shift costs elsewhere in the system.   Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dYM6TCAh #innovation #healtheconomics #digitalinnovation #technology #patientoutcome

Exciting News! Prof. Lotte Steuten, PhD is part of the newly formed Health Economics Methods Advisory (HEMA) initiative! Led by Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), in collaboration with NICE - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Canada's Drug Agency (CDA-AMC), HEMA is set to independently explore some of the most pressing challenges in health economics and health technology assessment methods. As a member of the Working Group for this international collaboration, Lotte's expertise will help in evaluating alternative methods for assessing the cost-effectiveness of interventions to support HTA decision-making. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gXD6sM7e

Establishing the Economic Value of Carbon-Minimal Inhalers      Healthcare systems contribute around 5% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and inhalers form a large portion of emissions within health services.      The environmental impact of inhalers  🟢Pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) contribute to health service GHG emissions, through propellants used in inhalers.  🟢Assuming price parity with current pMDIs, a transition to carbon minimal pMDIs could reduce emissions by 90% compared to existing pMDIs, with no impact on health care costs or clinical outcomes.     The economic case for carbon-minimal pMDIs  🟢A move to carbon- minimal pMDIs in the UK could reduce emissions by 1,720-2,513 kgCO2e per asthma patient over their lifetime.  🟢The economic value of these reductions is estimated at £463-£676 per patient, with potential national savings of £112-£167 million annually.     Contribution to net zero goals  🟢At a national level, transitioning to carbon-minimal pMDIs could save between 415,000 and 619,000 tCO₂e annually.  🟢This represents 7%-10% of the reductions needed for the NHS to reach net zero by 2040.     Integrating sustainability into healthcare decision-making  🟢 Integrating GHG emissions into health economic evaluations is achievable and might allow decision-makers to assess the real value of carbon minimal technologies.  🟢 A metric reflecting the cost per kgCO2e saved could provide helpful insights for policymakers.     Find out more from Sukanya Venkada Subramaniyan and Grace Hampson here: https://lnkd.in/dYP9Nm9Y #sustainablehealthcare #carbonminimalinhalers #healthcareemissions #climateaction #healtheconomics #sustainability

How can economic policies drive environmentally sustainable innovation in life sciences? The 2024 Innovation Policy Prize challenged global thinkers to propose solutions at the intersection of healthcare and the climate crisis. This year’s winners tackled some of the most pressing challenges in sustainable health innovation: Aligning economic incentives for sustainability 💡Professor Andrew Briggs proposed a three-pronged policy to embed environmental costs upfront in life sciences R&D. 💡His model introduces a dual reward system, combining domestic tax credits with a global fund for health interventions in lower-income countries. Green technology for lower-income countries 💡Professor Thomas Pogge's Ecological Impact Fund (EIF) aims to incentivize "greenovations" where they’re needed most. 💡The EIF would reward innovators for pollution-caused harm averted while ensuring equitable access to green technology. Both proposals highlight the need for global cooperation and financing to accelerate sustainable innovation. Read our insight on the winning proposals here: https://lnkd.in/dwSyM2gw Would love to hear your thoughts—how can economic policies drive sustainable innovation in healthcare? #innovation #sustainablehealth #healthcareinnovation #climateandhealth #greeninnovation #healtheconomics #globalhealth #sustainability

Publication from the Archives Inequalities in Dementia – Unveiling the Evidence and Forging a Path Towards Greater Understanding This report, published last June, identified 110 inequalities affecting people living with dementia and their carers across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Key Findings 🔹 Inequalities are linked to factors such as location, deprivation, socioeconomic status, age, culture, and ethnicity. 🔹 Significant disparities exist in diagnosis rates, access to healthcare, A&E attendances, hospital admissions, and participation in clinical trials. 🔹 Diagnosis rates in rural areas are 5-8 percentage points lower than urban areas, with the gap widening since 2020. 🔹 Gender, financial pressures, well-being, and systemic healthcare challenges contribute to these inequalities. 🔹 Around 41% of informal carers face financial difficulties, and approximately 20% are out of the labour force due to caregiving responsibilities. Recommendations 💡 Improve the collection and publication of dementia data to accurately measure inequalities. 💡 Increase quantitative research to better understand and address these disparities. With nearly 1 million people in the UK currently living with dementia—a number expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. This report highlights the ongoing need for better data and research, aligning with the goals of Integrated Care Systems and the NHS Long Term Plan. Find out more from Sian Hodgson, Helen Hayes, Patricia Cubi-Molla, and Martina Garau here: https://lnkd.in/dt-34gEN #dementia #healthinequalities #dementiacare #healthdisparities #carersupport #dementiaresearch #NHS #mentalhealth #publichealth

Build your career in health economics OHE is accepting applications for the 2025/26 MSc Fellowship Programme! We sponsor up to two part-time home MSc students in Health Economics at City St George’s, University of London, covering full tuition fees and providing a £1,600 monthly stipend. What’s Included: 🎓 Fully funded MSc in Health Economics 💼 Work experience at OHE alongside your studies 💡 A potential pathway to a full-time role at OHE Who Can Apply? This opportunity is ideal for candidates with a BSc in economics or a related field, but applicants from all backgrounds are welcome. You must secure admission to the MSc in Health Economics or Economic Evaluation in Healthcare at City St George’s. Application deadline: 31 May 2024 Find out more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/dypdk_5Y #healthcareeconomics #mscfellowship #careerdevelopment #economicseducation #ohefellowship #studyandwork

£184 million NHS Savings and 177,681 Fewer Long-COVID Cases     As Veganuary is almost over, we’re revisiting our previous research on the health and economic benefits of plant-based diets. Last year, our model-based analysis estimated that if everyone in England adopted a plant-based diet, the NHS could save around £6.7 billion per year, preventing over 2 million cases of chronic disease and gaining 172,735 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). But what about infectious diseases, particularly COVID-19?     What’s New?  🥦A systematic review and meta-analysis found that plant-based diets were linked to a 59% lower risk of COVID-19 infection in case-control studies.  🥦 Individuals following a plant-based diet also had a 62% lower risk of hospitalisation from COVID-19.  🥦 Although our model primarily addresses chronic diseases, our estimates suggest that a reduced COVID-19 infection rate could result in 177,681 fewer long-COVID cases annually.  🥦 This could equate to £184 million in NHS savings, potentially rising to £600 million under higher risk reduction scenarios.     While 100% adoption of vegan diets is ambitious, even incremental dietary shifts could yield substantial health and economic benefits. Denmark is already leading the way with government-backed plant-based food strategies.     Read Nadine Henderson and Chris Sampson's insight here: https://lnkd.in/dTPdWYwx #veganuary #plantbaseddiet #healthbenefits #prevention #NHS #longcovid #covid19 #chronicdisease #QUALY  

Conversation on Antimicrobial Resistance Policy and Innovation Grace Hampson will be speaking at a conference on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) policy and research on 30 January 2025 at 9:50 GMT. This event will touch on critical priorities and next steps outlined in the Confronting Antimicrobial Resistance: 2024 to 2029 Policy Paper and discuss solutions to tackle AMR, including: 🔹 The NHS England subscription model to incentivize pharmaceutical innovation. 🔹Leveraging AI and Whole Genome Sequencing for early detection and diagnostics. 🔹 Strengthening global leadership in AMR research and collaboration. 🔹 Supporting the development of new antimicrobials and therapies. This is a unique opportunity to engage with policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders shaping the future of AMR stewardship and innovation. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ddkP93pK

Can diversity of supply in rare disease (RD) markets improve patients’ health and health system efficiency?      Rare disease medicine markets often rely on single suppliers, leaving healthcare systems and patients vulnerable to medicine shortages and lack of choice. While regulatory and reimbursement policies address some challenges in RD innovation, they often overlook supply resilience and the value added by diversity of supply.     Single-supplier reliance amplifies risks:  🔸RD markets often lack treatment alternatives, even when alternatives are available.  🔸Reliance on single suppliers increases the risk and impact of medicine shortages. T   🔸Single-winner tenders and reimbursement policies limiting supply diversity, may unintentionally increase this risk.    The importance of Diversity of Supply in RD markets:  🔸It mitigates the impact of shortages, ensuring optimal healthcare and protection of patients’ health.  🔸It provides choices for prescribers and patients, improving health outcomes and value.  🔸Competition among suppliers drives innovation to address unmet needs and may increase price competition.  🔸While non rare-specific medicine policies recognise the issue of shortages as critical and promote supply resilience,  RD-focused policies lack targeted guidance.     To enhance resilience and innovation in RD medicine markets:  🔸Align regulatory, procurement, and reimbursement policies to support supplier diversity.  🔸Promote tender mechanisms that encourage multiple suppliers rather than "winner-takes-all" models.     Building resilient and sustainable RD medicine markets requires a cohesive policy framework that balances value-based assessments with supply resilience strategies. By fostering supplier diversity, we can reduce the risk of medicine shortages, improve patient outcomes, and drive innovation where it's needed most.     Read the full report from Matthew Napier, Brittany D., Matthias Hofer, Mikel Berdud García-López and Amanda Cole here: https://lnkd.in/dZ-ifbcp #rarediseases #medicineshortages #healthsystems #diversityofsupply #healthinnovation #patientoutcomes #supplychain