ABOUT US

Background

As a result of several efforts and initiatives at the Faculty of Economic Sciences from Universidad de Antioquia —whose research and curricular contents address the Colombian reality in all its dimensions and economic sectors, including health, in February 1997, an academic proposal began to be developed with the creation of the Study Group on Health Economics.

At present, the group has made publications and research works, which follow the specific objective of promoting development of health systems; also it has attended several national and international academic events, made interchanges with universities as well as public and private agencies; and orientated and educated young researchers in the field. All of that has allowed making a projection on what we hope for the next years.

What do we understand by health economics?

Our work conceives health economics as a field of applied economics, whose pioneering contributions are assigned to S. Mushkin (1958)* and K. Arrow (1963)**. Such an elaboration focuses in the study of the optimal use of resources for illness care and health promotion.
To address that study, we make a difference between two dimensions characteristic of economics-health relation, and give place to advances in the field. On the one hand, health is a considered to be an element of well-being and is seen as the result of several factors (environment, education, income, healthcare services, etc.). On the other hand, health is studied as an economic sector including all agents and organizations who participate in the health-illness process (promotion and rehabilitation, prevention, diagnostic and treatment).

Object of study and fields of application

We want to underline our field of study goes beyond relating health to research implying money, business and private profit. For us the main problem is to decide, among several choices, the one who allows achieving the best health conditions with available resources, or in other words reaching goals on health improvement with cost minimization. When applied, theories and concepts receive several classifications, within which three levels are brought into focus: a theoretical heart, an empiric exploration of relations and measurements (demand, supply, market assessment, among others) and health policies and systems evaluation.

Following the vision above mentioned, study and development on health economics —especially when referring to its application in health systems research and management, involves both economists and professionals from health and health related areas. The first ones are involved as they come into the sector and need to measure the competence and limitations of their discipline in the field. Health and health-related professionals are involved as they are users of economic science and are therefore in need of a basic understanding about it. At the same time, these professionals make important contributions to research through their specific experience.

Research lines

Among the questions concerning health economics, the following stand out: What are health contributions to economic growth? What are the determining factors of an optimum health condition? What is the nature of the healthcare services market? How could health care be financed?, and how can healthcare services providers be paid? How and why do supply and demand of healthcare services vary?

In order to contribute to answer these questions, in the frame of a consolidated group for health economics, we work under four research lines:

1) Economic evaluation of healthcare programs.

2) Industrial organization and regulation.

3) Employment, social security and reform.

4) Theoretical issues in Health Economics.

(*) Mushkin, Selma (1959). Toward a definition of health economics. Public Health Reports, Vol. 73, No. 9.
(**) Arrow, Kenneth (1963). Uncertainty and the welfare economics of medical care. American Economic Review, Vol. 53, No. 5.

Mission

We are a consolidated group of research from the Universidad de Antioquia. We look to develop research, teaching and extended education on the health economics area, following criteria of excellence, ethics and social responsibility.

Vision

We shall become a strong research group acknowledged on the national and international levels by its academic excellence and by its contributions to health economics and health systems development throughout Latin America.

We shall have associated work and academic exchange with highly qualified scholars, with master and doctorate degrees in universities recognized abroad.

We shall be selected in national and international convocations to lead research projects, and we shall have support from national and international organizations for the development of consolidated research lines.

We shall play an instrumental role in the education of the best professionals to promote management and develop research on health systems.

We shall publish our works in scientific and science divulgation journals in our country and worldwide.

We shall advance our work involving other disciplines work.

 

Objectives

General objective

Developing research and contributing to academic formation in the health economics area.

Specific objectives

To be involved in health economics academic development through permanent updating and networking with the main universities and research centers on the field all over the world.

To lead teaching on health economics both as an essential approach in the economists profession, and as a part of other professionals’ formation and specialization.

To train researchers for the continuous development of health economics in Colombia and Latin America.

To develop research projects intended to promote health systems development.

To divulge knowledge acquired on theoretical topics on health economics and the development of health systems all over the world, particularly in Latin America, through the working papers and participation in national and international publications.