2014 Press Releases
UCC hosts forum on value for money in health
Health systems worldwide are grappling with rising costs, demographic challenges and increasing incidence of chronic diseases, resulting in increased spending on health.
This is leading to a focus on achieving greater value for money from health systems. However, it is important that increased efficiency should not come at the expense of quality and safety.
In an Irish context, value for money is coming into ever sharper focus, given reduced budgets for health. Meanwhile, the Government's health reform proposals include a number of measures to enhance value for money.
These issues raise important questions regarding the health system, including:
- How and where can cost savings be made while maintaining quality and access?
- How is value for money measured in health?
- What initiatives have worked internationally and how can these be replicated in Ireland?
These issues and more will be discussed at a forum entitled ‘Enhancing Value for Money in Health: The Challenge of Efficiency and Efficacy’, to be held in UCC on Tuesday, 8th April.
The panel of speakers reflects the importance of this matter and will examine both national and international perspectives. Speakers include:
- Dr Tracey Cooper, CEO, Health Information and Quality Authority
- Mr Pat McLoughlin, Chair of the Consultative Forum on Health Insurance
- Mr Stephen McMahon, CEO, Irish Patients' Association
- Prof Ilaria Mosca, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
- Dr Aileen Murphy, Health Economics Group, UCC
This will be the fourth forum hosted by the Health Economics Group in recent years and follows on the success of the previous three, in 2011, 2012 and 2013, which provided an opportunity for healthcare professionals, policy-makers and academics alike to discuss relevant issues.
The forum will take place on Tuesday 8th April 2014 from 2pm to 6pm in Aras na Laoi, UCC and is open to all. A registration fee of €50 will apply. For further details, contact the Health Economics Group at heg@ucc.ie.
Note for Editors:
The Health Economics Group in the School of Economics at University College Cork consists of health economists with a wide range of research expertise, including health system funding, mental health, health innovations, health economic evaluation and nutrition. The Group offers postgraduate programmes in health economics for economists and health sector practitioners.