Centre for the Health Economy
Centre for the Health Economy
WE UNDERTAKE RESEARCH TO INFORM PUBLIC DEBATE, ASSIST DECISION-MAKING, AND HELP FORMULATE STRATEGY AND POLICY
Macquarie University’s Centre for the Health Economy (MUCHE) was established in 2014 as a strategic initiative to undertake innovative research on health, ageing and human services.
Our vision is to create a world where decision makers are empowered with applied, trusted and influential research into health and human services policy and systems. Our mission is to deliver leading innovative research by operating professionally, collaboratively and sustainably.
We are interested in investigating the Health Economy at the macro level, with particular focus on the interdependencies of these systems with each other, and the broader economy. This includes investigating factors beyond the health and human services sectors that impact the health and wellbeing of populations.
Our point of difference lies in our approach to research. While MUCHE primarily consists of specialist health economists, we recognise that researching the Health Economy requires many skill sets and experience. Solving problems within health and human services now requires teams with multi-disciplinary skills working closely together.
We therefore work collaboratively with our partners, and across the University, including the Macquarie Business School and the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences. We also work with Macquarie University’s world renowned research hubs, including Australian Hearing Hub (like Cochlear) and Australian Institute of Health Innovation as well as Centre for Emotional Health, Centre for Implementation of Hearing Research (I-Hear) and MGSM.
Our collaborative approach also extends to world leading Universities in the US, Europe and Asia, and to government and non-government partners that are committed to funding independent research on the health economy.
We take pride in combining our professional approach to partner engagement with our academic approach to methodology in delivering innovative translational research.
Strategic priorities
LEAD
Be a leading research centre that contributes to, and shifts, the health and human services debate in Australia.
INNOVATE
Deliver high quality, innovative research valued by business, government and Macquarie University.
COLLABORATE
Build and maintain close collaboration with Macquarie University faculties, centres and institutes.
CONNECT
Hold trusted connections with business, government and the not-for-profit sector.
EXPAND
Utilise international experience and create an international presence for the Centre.
TRAIN
Develop a large and highly skilled team of specialist health economists, researchers and PHD students.
STIMULATE
Create an innovative, stimulating, and exciting workplace environment.
Our research capabilities
CHOICE MODELLING
We employ experimental design, stated preference techniques, and choice experiments to estimate the value people place on alternative attributes of health and human service products and services. This is particularly useful in health care where market price is often not available.
ECONOMETRICS/DATA ANALYTICS
We use econometric models to estimate the relationship between health and human service interventions, outcomes, and participant characteristics. Our models allow us to remove potential bias associated with non-randomisation of participants to programs.
ECONOMIC EVALUATION
We undertake economic evaluations of health care services and technology to determine whether they are cost effective
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
We use health economic theory, health state valuation techniques, and simulation modelling to access the efficiency of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and prosthetics from a government and broader community perspective.
POLICY ANALYSIS
We undertake economic modelling to estimate the impacts of government policy change on the health and human services sectors, government, consumers and the broader community.
PROGRAM EVALUATION
We undertake formative, process and impact program evaluations to determine what is achieved by a program, how it can be improved, and the impact of programs on participants and the broader community.