Aberdeen University to host top-level health economics conference

Around 150 senior decision makers and chief executives from Scotland's National Health Service will be attending an anniversary conference later this month which will be introduced by Hugh Henry, MSP, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. The Health Economics Research Unit (HERU), of the University of Aberdeen, have organised the 25th anniversary conference with attendees from Chief Executives of Health Boards & Trust, Medical Directors and Directors of Public Health, Health-related Bodies and SEHD Senior Management.

The one-day conference, What can Health Economics do for the NHS in Scotland?, to be held at King's College Conference Centre on April 29, 2002, will focus on a range of topics relating to health economics.

Several distinguished speakers are taking part from HERU, including Dr Mandy Ryan, Dr Tony Scott, Luke Vale, Anne Ludbrook, Dr Sally Stearns, and Professor Bob Elliott (recently appointed Director of HERU).

Principal C Duncan Rice will welcome attendees, followed by an introduction by Hugh Henry, MSP, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care.

Professor Elliott said: "The conference will provide a forum from which some of the work being undertaken by HERU can be showcased. Topics to be covered during the day include the valuation of benefits, one of the biggest challenges facing health economists. A presentation will be given of the potential uses of discrete choice experiments (DCE), a new method of benefit assessment which is being developed within HERU. Scottish data will be used from the medical and nursing workforce to examine the main trends and changes in the workforce and to illustrate important issues, including the use of data to predict the future demand and supply of doctors and nurses in Scotland.

"The afternoon session will begin with three presentations relating to Health Technology Assessment. Current estimates of trends in healthy life expectancy for the elderly will also be discussed and issues pertaining to tracking of future trends. In the final session, a panel of distinguished health economists will identify what they see as the future priorities for Health Economics in Scotland. "

Interest has already been shown in the conference, with over 140 delegates due to be attending from across the UK.

Further information is available from Shona Christie, Health Economics Research Unit, University of Aberdeen, telephone: (01224) 554065, or email: s.w.christie@abdn.ac.uk