title: Health economics and health policy: experiences from New Zealand.
abstract: Health economics has had a significant impact on the New Zealand health system over the past 30 years. In this paper, I set out a framework for thinking about health economics, give some historical background to New Zealand and the New Zealand health system, and discuss examples of how health economics has influenced thinking about the organisation of the health sector and priority setting. I conclude the paper with overall observations about the role of health economics in health policy in New Zealand, also identifying where health economics has not made the contribution it could and where further influence might be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research Centre, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington, P O Box 600, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand, jackie.cumming@vuw.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cumming
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D004467:Economics; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000191:economics / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics*; D006292:Health Priorities / Q000191:economics; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D011050:Policy Making