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Summary Report Of The WHO's CollaboratingCentre For Health Economics
June 2007
June 2007
The Centre for Health Economics, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand [CHE] has these objectives.
As a WHO's Collaborating Centre for Health Economics, CHE has made some progress in accordance with the proposed strategy to strengthen health economics capability in the region. While these activities are substantially focused on the WHO's South East Asian Region, they go well beyond that geographical area in the process of forming wider international linkages. This activity should be seen against the need to also enhance capability within Thailand itself in accordance with the dual national and international role of the Centre.
- To develop expertise and commitment to the application of health economics in the formulation of health care policies, in planning resource allocation, and in health care delivery processes in Thailand .
- To strengthen health economics research capacity in Thailand and Southeast Asia, particularly with respect to economic analysis and evaluation in the control of tropical diseases.
- To conduct research in order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of delivery processes of health care at all levels.
- To provide advisory and information services, particularly in Southeast Asia, on economic aspects of health care delivery and disease control.
- To promote international research collaboration in health economics at a global level.
Education and Training
The major educational activity of the Centre, namely the MSc in Health Economics course, is currently in its fifth year. This course has drawn applicants from many countries in Asia and Africa. A heartening recent change has been an increase in the numbers of Thai students selecting to undertake the international course in English, so that now there is a good balance between Thai and foreign participants. This has been encouraged by the Faculty of Economics introducing some partial scholarships for Thai students.
Formal coursework encompasses modules on Microeconomics for Health Applications, Macroeconomics for Health Applications, Statistics for Health Applications, Health Care Financing, Economic Evaluation, Health Planning, Organization and Management in the Health Sector, Research Methods.
Short courses in these areas also attract students interested in specific problems. Workshops have been carried out in several countries by invitation.
It is satisfying that a number of graduates form this course have been promoted to positions of influence in their countries where they can utilise their economics expertise in health planning. Hopefully, this development will facilitate international linkages, within Asia and between Asia and Africa. Some have gone on to pursue Ph.D. in this field or to carry out applied research projects in their home countries.
Some countries have initiated or are planning to establish their own educational training programmes, with support from various sources and involving CHE graduates in curriculum design and teaching in some cases. This is a positive step forward towards increasing national capability on a more sustainable basis. CHE has contributed directly thereto when requested, in order to contributing to strengthening capacity in developing countries.
Thus this core activity, supported by WHO and TDR, together with some help from other agencies, represents a solid achievement over a substantial time period. Now that a WHO supported course has commenced in South Africa and focused on the African region, it is hoped that useful cooperative research will eventuate in the good rapport already established between the two centres. It is important to note the sustained assistance in teaching that has been provided by key individuals from national agencies outside CHE and from agencies/institutions in a number of other countries, ensuring external perspectives in the programmes.
Collaboration with WBI/World Bank for participation in the Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health and Health Sector Reform in Health Sector Reform has been initiated at the request of the Bank.Research Directions
In addition to individual staff interests, a number of collaborative research projects have been undertaken. These include work related to broad issues; such as, social movements and economic transformation, scientific and technical manpower for economic growth, sustainability of economic growth in Thailand, economic cooperation among Mekong Basin countries, economics of social welfare project management. They include also work focused on specific health issues; such as, facets of health sector reform, health care financing, economic analysis of malaria diagnostic technology, social and economic impact of dengue hemorrhagic fever, cigarettes and excise tax, economics of screening for thalassemia.
These activities have been funded from various sources. The encouragement of SEARO in research development is especially acknowledged. An important achievement has been increasing collaboration with the Thai Health Systems Research Institute in matters relating to health policy analysis and planning. The limitations of isolated academic research are recognised, as is the constant need to focus on practical problems where health economic inputs can lead to action for resolution of immediate questions. Some advances have been made in this context but it is clear that further development in this direction is required.
Special Activities
The Centre has sponsored periodic forum lectures by local and visiting speakers. The wide range of subjects and of countries represented in the series reflects the growing reputation of the Centre internationally, which attracts a constant stream of visitors from around the world. This process ensures access to information from many sources and the exposure of staff and students to an unfettered spectrum of ideas in health economics and related fields.
The Centre has been involved in a number of initiatives concerning health sector reform nationally and regionally. These include issues related to health care financing, insurance, medical technology assessment, essential drug packages. These activities are seen as fundamental in bringing health economics expertise to bear on major health policy issues.
The Planned Activities, 2007-2009
- Education and Training,
- MSc in Health Economics,
- Short Courses in Health Economics,
- Ph.D. in Health Economics,
- Tailor-made courses,
- Workshops,
- Seminar in Health Economics,
- Collaborate withWHO/SEARO,
- Collaborate with World Bank Institute
- Consolidate existing linkages, national and internaitonal
- Establish an Regional Health Economics Network via Internet
- Plan focused workshops/conferences.
- Assist strengthening selected countries.
International research
- Health Policy related activities
- Disease specific activities
Mailing address for further details:
- Regional disease/health/economic information network applications/specific projects
- Health Sector Reform – comparative issues
- Disease-specific multi-country issues
Dr. Siripen Supakankunti
Executive Director,Centre for Health Economics
Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Telephone: (662) 218-6280, 218-6281
: Fax: (662) 218-6279, 251-3967
