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Simon Brassel, Senior Principal Economist
Health economics is about making choices under constraints
In practice, its application relies on many factors such as processes & institutions, data & evidence and methods & frameworks. In this month’s bulletin, we highlight three recent pieces of OHE’s work that reflect these dimensions
How do you decide what to buy with the ~2% of GDP spent on prescription drugs when you aim to improve the health of 1.4 billion citizens? This question is explored in the most recent edition of our Around the World in HTAs blog series. Follow Meng, Claud, and Yawen on China’s journey of HTA capacity building and better decision-making.
Over a year ago, we developed a framework to define health system pressure, which in most health systems is still omnipresent. Recent headlines, such as an AI physio app that halves the NHS backlog for physiotherapy appointments, are examples of how investments can increase usable capacity of staff and therefore eases health system pressure.
How China’s health system is reshaping access to medicines
Around the world in HTAs: China – From fragmentation to function
China has transformed its approach to drug reimbursement, moving from infrequent and unclear updates of its national drug list to an evidence-based, annual process overseen by the National Healthcare Security Administration. Since 2017, more than 700 new medicines, including many innovative therapies, have been added through structured HTA-driven negotiations. While progress is clear, challenges remain around transparency, data quality, and the expansion of HTA to devices and digital health.
Respiratory infections could be cost UK businesses £44bn a year
Employer Costs from Respiratory Infections
Respiratory infections cost UK businesses an estimated £44 billion annually, with most losses coming from presenteeism. Women and certain industries are disproportionately affected, highlighting both productivity and equity challenges. The report shows how employer-led vaccination programs and supportive policy measures could reduce costs, strengthen workforce health, and boost economic growth.
A new framework to measure healthcare system pressure
Developing a Conceptual Framework of Healthcare System Pressure
Our conceptual framework defines Healthcare System Pressure (HCSP) as demand exceeding usable capacity, introduces ways to measure it, and highlights strategies to anticipate or mitigate pressure. This framework offers policymakers and HTA bodies a shared language and practical tool for evaluating interventions that strengthen healthcare resilience.
As an employer, have you considered the impact of respiratory infections on productivity?
A new interactive Respiratory Cost Calculator, developed by OHE, commissioned and owned by Pfizer, enables employers to estimate the financial impact of absenteeism and presenteeism due to short-term respiratory illnesses.
