D.3. Round Table: Measuring the Economic Burden of Disease: Methods, Values and Policy Relevance
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Understanding the economic burden of disease is essential for informing policymaking and resource allocation within health systems and other sectors, particularly when assessing the budgetary impact of interventions or policies. Different approaches can lead to substantially different policy conclusions. This workshop explores how different methodological choices can be useful for different purposes or applications, and how they can influence the way diseases are assessed and prioritised within European health systems. Traditionally, Cost of Illness (COI) studies have been widely used to quantify the economic burden of disease, estimating direct healthcare costs, productivity losses, or informal care costs. . On the other hand, approaches based on willingness-to-pay (WTP) concepts, such as the Value of a Statistical Life (VSL) and the Value of a Life Year (VOLY), as well as well-being based methods, seek to take into account broader social preferences, including non-market values. The workshop will compare market-based approaches (e.g. healthcare expenditure, productivity losses) with non-market valuation methods (e.g. VSL, VOLY, stated preference methods), discussing their theoretical foundations, data requirements and implications for policy-making. Particular attention will be paid to how these approaches influence estimates of the burden of disease and, consequently, investment decisions. The workshop has three objectives (1) to present and critically compare the main methods for estimating the economic burden of disease, including costs, outcomes and WTP-based approaches; (2) to explore how different valuation frameworks influence policy conclusions and prioritisation processes; and (3) to discuss how these methods can be better integrated into decision-making to support investment in public health. The session will bring together experts with experience in health economic evaluation at national and international levels. Following a joint introductory presentation by the moderator, each panellist will present their perspective and explain how different approaches can be applied in real-world policy-making contexts. These presentations will form the basis for an interactive round-table discussion, encouraging critical reflection and audience engagement. The added value of this workshop lies in its focus on methodological diversity and its relevance to international and national public policy. By bringing together different ways of measuring and valuing the burden of disease, the session aims to support more informed, transparent decisions aligned with investment in prevention and public health. Key messages • The way we measure the economic burden of disease shapes policy decisions and different methods can lead to different priorities. • Market-based and non-market valuation approaches serve different policy purposes, from budget impact to societal welfare. Speakers/Panellists Vanessa Gorasso Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium Filipa Sampaio Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Mickael Hiligsmann Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands David Cantarero-Prieto Universidad de Cantabria – IDIVAL, Santander, Spain
Authors: João Vasco Santos, Brecht Devleesschauw
Language: English
Subfield: Economics and Econometrics
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,181
OpenAlex ID: W7223654055