Exposing Clinicians to Health Economics

What does it mean to deliver value in healthcare? According to Maastricht University, economic evaluation in healthcare is a systematic approach to comparing the costs and outcomes of different interventions, helping decision-makers allocate limited resources in a way that maximizes patient and societal benefit. Rooted in health technology assessment and advanced by institutions such as Maastricht, this discipline has become increasingly important in modern healthcare systems.

The OMI Economic Evaluation in Healthcare seminar brought together 33 fellows from 28 countries for an engaging week of learning. Participants represented a range of backgrounds: from Saudi Arabia to India, Nepal, Mongolia, Tanzania, Vietnam, and beyond. The seminar is part of OMI’s leadership program, welcoming OMI alumni and Maastricht PhD students who are on the path to develop as leaders in their healthcare systems.

The diversity of participants was central to the learning experience. Fellows contributed insights shaped by widely different healthcare systems, economic constraints, and patient populations. These exchanges elevate discussions beyond theory, allowing one to critically reflect on how economic evaluation applies across contexts and cultures.

Led by course directors Silvia Evers and Milena Pavlova from Maastricht University, the seminar provided a foundation in the core principles of economic evaluation. As Dr. Evers reflected:

“This week, the course focused on the core principles of economic evaluation in healthcare, including how to measure and value costs and outcomes. Participants worked with both trial-based and model-based approaches and learned how to interpret cost-effectiveness results under uncertainty. In my opinion, exposing clinicians to health economics is essential because their decisions directly shape how limited healthcare resources are allocated and how value is delivered to patients and society.”

The seminar combined theory with practical application. Fellows were divided into six groups, each mentored by one or more faculty members, and engaged in workshops and assignments covering topics such as: measuring costs and outcomes in economic evaluation; patient classification systems; healthcare systems and pricing structures; and modeling in economic evaluation.

Furthermore, fellows collaboratively designed an economic evaluation study from scratch, translating the theory they learned into real-world scenarios. This approach ensured that participants could actively apply concepts in their professional contexts.

The faculty brought together an interdisciplinary team from across Europe. Co-directing the course with Silvia Evers was Milena Pavlova from Maastricht University, also joined by faculty members Lorena Dini (Charité Berlin), Bosiljka Djikanovic (University of Belgrade), Rositsa Koleva-Kolarova (University of Oxford), Céu Mateus (Lancaster University), and Ghislaine van Mastrigt (Maastricht University.)

Reflecting on the experience, Silvia Evers also noted:

“Together with fellow health economists, I have very much enjoyed serving as faculty at the OMI Maastricht University Seminar on Economic Evaluation in Healthcare. This week’s seminar provided a clear introduction to the key principles of economic evaluation in healthcare. It covered how to assess costs and outcomes using both trial-based and model-based approaches and helped fellows interpret cost-effectiveness in clinical practice. I found the interactions with the clinical fellows particularly inspiring, as they combined the course material with their day-to-day clinical experience from 28 countries. In my opinion, clinicians play an important role in how limited healthcare resources are used, and understanding economic evaluation can support more informed decision-making that benefits both patients and society.”

Throughout the week, the seminar maintained its interactive format, blending lectures with discussion, reflection, and much to exchange. As the seminar concluded, fellows left not only more competent in economic evaluation but also with a clear understanding of their role in shaping efficient, equitable healthcare systems.