Session (CTI)

Issue: Although the impact of poor health on labour force participation and macroeconomic outcomes is increasingly recognised, labour market and productivity impacts remain limited in HTA frameworks. While countries like the Netherlands incorporate broader economic impacts selectively, NICE in England continues to focus on health outcomes and health system costs. Yet with increasing policy interest in reducing labour market pressures and supporting return-to-work efforts, there is increasing impetus to account for labour market participation and productivity in HTA. Including these will highlight the broader value of some types of interventions, but raises questions around how to balance these benefits against health outcomes and address equity concerns—especially for patient groups outside working age. A range of methods issues about estimating these effects will also be considered. Overview: This panel will explore not only whether labour market and productivity effects should be included in HTA, but how to do so in a consistent, transparent, and methodologically rigorous manner. Systematically including macroeconomic outcomes requires clear guidance on modelling techniques, data standards, and institutional governance. It also prompts debate about trade-offs: how to balance one patient group’s health improvement against another group’s productivity gains; how to manage the dissonance between those funding health and those benefiting from improved productivity; and how to avoid selective application that benefits certain technologies or stakeholders disproportionately. After the introduction (10min) the speakers will present and discuss their different viewpoints (30min). Subsequently, the presenters will be interviewed regarding their key messages and will engage in critical discussion on the challenges associated (10min). We close with an interactive debate with the audience (10min). This panel provides valuable insights for advanced researchers, decision makers and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders on how labour market and productivity dimensions could be utilized in HTA frameworks.