The Evidence for Evidence - Getting Value for Money in Economic Evaluations of Health and Health Care

PharmacoEconomic News Special Issue ¥ June 1999 CO N F E R E N C E H I G H L I G H T S The Evidence for Evidence Getting Value for Money in Economic Evaluations of Health and Health Care O n April 29-30, 1999, the Institute of Health Economics hosted its first conference, The Evidence for Evidence – Getting Value for Money in Economic Evaluations of Health and Health Care. The conference was organized to answer an important question for health care: “What is the evidence that economic evaluations and other research-generated evidence of health and health care improve decision making”? In keeping with this theme, the Speakers presented practical examples of how health economics research is currently used, or not used, and why. This included discussions of ways to improve health economics research and further encourage the use of such information by health care decision-makers. The event was an overwhelming success – thanks to the contributions of the Speakers, and to the hard work of the Program Committee, Staff and Research Fellows of the Institute. Requests for proceedings from the conference indicate that this information may be of interest to those unable to attend. We are therefore pleased to present the following summaries of the Speakers’ presentations.