Follow the Money? The Changing Role of Economic Evaluation in Today’s NHS [Session 3b: Breakout]

Why It Matters

The shift toward affordability and quicker, pragmatic analyses will shape which innovations the NHS adopts, affecting procurement, service design and patient access; aligning economic methods with operational decision timelines is essential to ensure evidence informs real‑world investment choices.

Summary

At a breakout on the changing role of health economics in the NHS, panelists argued the discipline is shifting from ‘health maximization’ toward cost‑minimisation amid tighter budgets. Speakers—ranging from a GP‑tech CEO to academic and applied economists—distinguished traditional economic evaluation (incremental cost per QALY and long‑run value) from pragmatic financial and budget‑impact analysis focused on affordability. They reported a persistent mismatch between rapid evaluations produced and the immediate, operational questions faced by decision‑makers, urging more pragmatic methods and closer alignment with system needs. The discussion highlighted tensions where interventions can be cost‑effective yet unaffordable within constrained budgets.