Whatever Happened to Health Economics?

There are tried and trusted ways to fund and provide health care according to both economic theory and evidence. Yet health economics seems to have lost its wider influence and several policy distractions abound, diverting politicians from the key global messages. Most countries are heading towards Universal Health Coverage in one form or other, with some form of collective insurance at its heart. The case for this, from an economic perspective, needs to be reiterated. But a publicly financed health and social care system does not avoid the issue of claims continually outstripping resource availability. Thus, we also need economics to assist with big questions such as the role of the private sector, use of frameworks for setting priorities, workforce planning and pay, and preparation for future pandemics. Throughout, we will refer to the thoughts of the originator of the UK’s National Health Service, Aneurin Bevan. Although he had much to say of relevance, he neither fully articulated the economic case for an NHS nor how to use economics in its design and management. This volume also seeks to fill those gaps.