Introduction to Health Economic Evaluation
Overview
This course provides a starting point for anyone involved in the healthcare sector who needs an introduction to the language of economics and economic evaluation. It explains how economists evaluate the costs and benefits of health interventions, and how health economics is used by decision makers in the health services and in the pharmaceutical and medical technology industries.
Format
Access to the online course materials will be provided two weeks before the live sessions, so lectures and practical exercises can be viewed and worked through before the live sessions, at a time convenient to participants.
Who is this course for?
This course is for health professionals and health researchers who want to understand the basics of health economics and its relevance to the health service. No previous knowledge of economics is required.
For those with some general knowledge of health economics, or economic evaluation, it will serve as an introduction to the Applied Methods of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis course.
The course is for a UK-based audience, and is taught in English, but the content is applicable to healthcare professionals worldwide.
Fees & registration
Format: Online
Date: 22–23 September 2026
Fees:
- Academic/public sector £375
- Commercial/private sector £500
Discount: 20% off when booking more than one online course – visit the University online shop.
Enquiries and group bookings
For enquiries or group bookings, please email the Administration team, or register on our waiting list to hear about future courses.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course participants will be able to:
- understand why economic evaluation is undertaken;
- identify the strengths and limitations of the different types of economic evaluation;
- understand the construction of a Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) and how to obtain utility weights;
- identify the key elements needed to generate costs, and understand how to analyse cost data
- understand how to interpret cost-effectiveness results;
- understand the use and limitations of cost-effectiveness league tables as a method of prioritising health interventions.
Generic course programme
| Day one | Pre-recorded lectures & exercises (approximate duration) | Live question and answer session |
Session 1: introduction to key health economic concepts
| 45 minutes | *2–3.30pm |
Session 2: measuring and valuing outcomes
| 80 minutes |
| Day two | Pre-recorded lectures & exercises (approximate duration) | Live question and answer session |
Session 1: measuring and valuing costs
| 75 minutes | *2–3.30pm |
Session 2: interpreting and using cost effectiveness analysis in decision making
| 75 minutes |
- Q & A sessions will begin by discussing your answers to the practical exercises that were set at the end of each module, followed by general questions relating to that module.
- We strongly recommend working through the online lectures and exercises in advance and identifying any questions you may have, so that you get the most out of the live sessions.
*All timings will be either UK GMT or BST dependent on time of year