In an era of finite resources and rising healthcare costs, the ability to make sound, data-driven decisions is more critical than ever. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) serves as an essential tool for evaluating the value of new interventions, treatments, and policies, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently to achieve the greatest possible health benefits. This training course provides a comprehensive guide to the principles and practice of CEA, empowering professionals to navigate the complex trade-offs between cost and clinical outcomes.

This program is designed for individuals seeking to master the quantitative skills and strategic thinking required to perform and interpret CEA. You will learn to construct economic models, measure health outcomes using key metrics like QALYs and DALYs, and critically appraise existing studies. By the end of this course, you will be able to confidently apply CEA to influence policy, guide purchasing decisions, and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable healthcare system.

Duration

5 days

Target Audience

• Health economists and policy analysts
• Hospital and healthcare administrators
• Pharmaceutical and medical device professionals
• Public health researchers and consultants
• Government officials in health ministries
• Insurance and managed care executives
• Clinical research and development teams
• Biostatisticians and data scientists
• Grant-making and funding agency staff
• Anyone involved in health technology assessment

Objectives

• Master the fundamentals of health economics and CEA.
• Measure and value both direct and indirect healthcare costs.
• Use standard metrics like Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) to quantify health outcomes.
• Conduct a complete cost-effectiveness analysis from start to finish.
• Critically appraise and interpret published CEA studies.
• Understand the role of CEA in healthcare policy and decision-making.
• Perform sensitivity analysis to account for uncertainty in data.
• Develop a robust economic model for a healthcare intervention.
• Communicate CEA findings to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.

Course Modules

Module 1: Introduction to Health Economics and CEA

• The principles of health economics.
• What is cost-effectiveness analysis and why is it important?
• Distinguishing between CEA, cost-benefit, and cost-utility analysis.
• The societal vs. healthcare system perspective.
• Key concepts: opportunity cost, marginal analysis, and discounting.

Module 2: Cost Measurement and Valuation

• Identifying and categorizing different types of costs.
• Methods for estimating direct medical costs.
• Valuing indirect costs, such as productivity losses.
• Dealing with costs from different time periods.
• Sourcing reliable cost data for analysis.

Module 3: Measuring and Valuing Health Outcomes

• Introduction to health-related quality of life.
• The conceptual basis of Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs).
• How to calculate and interpret QALYs.
• An overview of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).
• Other outcome measures and their applications.

Module 4: The CEA Framework and Decision-Making

• The steps for conducting a CEA study.
• Calculating the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER).
• Plotting results on the cost-effectiveness plane.
• Understanding the cost-effectiveness threshold.
• Using ICERs to inform resource allocation decisions.

Module 5: Addressing Uncertainty: Sensitivity Analysis

• The importance of addressing uncertainty in CEA.
• Types of sensitivity analysis: one-way, two-way, and probabilistic.
• Performing a Monte Carlo simulation.
• Interpreting and presenting the results of a sensitivity analysis.
• Using a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve.

Module 6: Advanced Topics and Policy Implications

• CEA in specific contexts: pharmaceuticals, public health, and diagnostics.
• Budget impact analysis and its relationship to CEA.
• The role of CEA in health technology assessment (HTA).
• Equity and distributional concerns in CEA.
• International perspectives and guidelines for CEA.

Module 7: Practical Application: Case Studies and Modeling

• A step-by-step walkthrough of a real-world CEA case study.
• Hands-on practice building a simple economic model.
• Using software tools for CEA (e.g., Excel, R).
• Peer review and discussion of a sample CEA report.
• Presenting your own analysis and receiving feedback.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.