INVESTING IN GLOBAL HEALTH AND HUMAN CAPITAL
Current projects
Development of an Investment Case for Adolescent Wellbeing 2023-2024
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Peter Sheehan, Kim Sweeny, John Symons, Neelam Maharaj, Margarita Kumnick (VISES)
Funded by: Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) (sponsored by the WHO)
Description: Development of an investment case for adolescent wellbeing to contribute to the advocacy program conducted by the PMNCH.
The project includes a comprehensive review of existing knowledge on the returns to investment in adolescent well-being, the strengthening of existing models and creation of new models updating data on intervention costs and effectiveness, and the development of toolkits at both the global and national level to allow the models to be used by planners and analysts to produce their own benefit-cost estimates of investing in adolescent health.
An interim report was presented at the Global Forum for Adolescents held on 11–12 October 2023, which brought together youth and adolescents, advocates and global decision-makers.The final report will be available later in 2023.
Developing a Polio Transition Investment Case for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region 2023
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, John Symons, Kim Sweeny, Peter Sheehan, Margarita Kumnick (VISES),
Funded by: WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean
Description: The study will investigate investment in sustaining polio essential functions, and integrating them in a broader program to strengthen disease surveillance, immunization and outbreak, detection, preparedness and response capacities using valuable polio assets and expertise.
An Investment Case for Eye Health and Restoring Women's Sight 2020-2023
Investigators: Kim Sweeny (VISES), Daniel Ooi (VU), Bruce Rasmussen (VISES)
Funded by: Fred Hollows Foundation
Description: The first phase of the project has involved developing an epidemiological and economic model of interventions to estimate the return on investment from programs to improve visual impairment due to cataracts and refractive error. The second phase involves interviewing women in three countries about their experiences of the impact of cataract surgery, particularly on caring relationships with families and communities. Interviews have been done in Laos with others planned for Kenya and Pakistan.
Recent projects
WHO Investment Case 2.0: Technical Report 2021-2022
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Peter Sheehan, Kim Sweeny, John Symons, Neelam Maharaj, (VISES)
Funded by: World Health Organisation
Description: This research was an investment case for the WHO to increase its funding levels. The economic and social return to investing in the WHO were estimated by modelling the global benefits likely to arise from over 100 interventions in which WHO will be involved, estimating the share of those benefits attributable to WHO, and calculating a benefit-cost ratio of the attributable benefits to total expenditure by WHO over the next decade.
Output:
Sheehan, P., Rasmussen, B., Sweeny, K., Maharaj, N. and Symons, J. 2022, WHO Investment Case 2.0: Technical Report, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne.
See WHO press release, 24 May 2022.
See also WHO summary report A Healthy Return: Investment Case for a Sustainably Financed WHO.
Syria Education and Development Investment Case [SEDIC] Technical Note: Economic, social and psychological costs and risks resulting from ‘not-investing in education systems in the Syrian Arab Republic 2020-2022
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Peter Sheehan, John Symons, Neelam Maharaj (VISES)
Funded by: UNICEF Syria
Description: This research will support the development of an investment case which profiles economic, social, and psychological costs, risks and consequences resulting from not investing in child and adolescent education systems in post-conflict Syria. The results will enable UNICEF to engage in evidence-based advocacy to invest in education systems-strengthening in Syria. The investigation will cite evidence on how to balance education investments at various levels to achieve the highest economic and human development returns notwithstanding existing budget limitations, and to mitigate against negative long-term social impacts that could result in added instability in the post-crisis recovery period.
Outputs:
Rasmussen, B., Sheehan, P., Symons, J., Maharaj, N., Welsh, A. and Kumnick, M. 2022, Syria Education and Development Investment Case: Economic, Social and Psychological Costs and Risks Resulting from Not Investing in Education Systems in Syria, Report to UNICEF Syria, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne (English, Arabic)
Symons, J., Rasmussen, B. and Maharaj, M. 2022, Proposed Interventions for Modelling Formal Education, VISES Working Paper 2022-1, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne.
Brief produced by UNICEF (English, Arabic).
Webinar: Global Partnership for Education (Washington DC) webinar presents findings of report on 27 June 2023.
Development of the Investment Case to Reduce Road Traffic Injuries among Adolescents 2020-2022
Investigators: John Symons, Kim Sweeny (VISES)
Funded by: FIA Foundation, London
Partner: Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) on Driving Global Investment in Adolescent Health
Description: Various modes of transport have a major influence on death and disability with road traffic injuries remaining the leading cause of death and a major overall contributor to the burden of disease among adolescents. This is particularly true for low- and middle-income countries, with road traffic injury being the leading cause of death for children and young people between the ages of 5 and 29.
Most of the evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to reduce road traffic injuries derives from studies done in high-income countries. This is one significant limitation on the development of investment cases for optimal transport in low- and middle-income countries. There is less evidence on the appropriateness, feasibility and effectiveness of these interventions in low- and middle-income countries, where effectiveness is likely to depend on the state of infrastructure, the nature of health systems and the degree of governance. This research aims to address this evidence gap. This agenda aligns with the FIA Foundation’s recently released 2030 manifesto "These are our Streets" and the aim of making streets safe for young people as currently a person is killed on roads somewhere around every 23 seconds. While many successful interventions are known, there are many for which evidence is scarce and the cost of the interventions in individual countries is also unknown.
Outputs:
Symons, J. and Sweeny, K. 2022, Development of the Investment Case to Reduce Road Traffic Injuries among Adolescents, Final Report to FIA Foundation, London, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne.
Symons, J. and Sweeny, K. 2021, 'Development of the Investment Case to Reduce Road Traffic Injuries among Adolescents: Tanzania Road Safety Case Study', Final Report to FIA Foundation, London, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne.
Symons, J. and Sweeny, K. 2021, 'Development of the Investment Case to Reduce Road Traffic Injuries among Adolescents: Vietnam Road Safety Case Study', Final Report to FIA Foundation, London, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne.
Symons, J. and Sweeny, K. 2021, 'Development of the Investment Case to Reduce Road Traffic Injuries among Adolescents: Colombia Road Safety Case Study', Final Report to FIA Foundation, London, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne.
See FIA Foundation press release, 20 June 2022.
Investment Case Study on HPV Vaccination in Viet Nam 2020-2022
Investigators: Kim Sweeny, John Symons, Bruce Rasmussen (VISES)
Funded by: UNFPA Vietnam
Partners: National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Ministry of Health of Viet Nam) and Daffodil Centre
Description: The study provides strong evidence to support the efforts of the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam and other agencies to scale up an human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination program in Viet Nam for girls and women. The study shows that a vaccination programme will return between around 5 and 11 times its cost in economic benefits, and between 8 and 20 times its cost in combined economic and social benefits.
Output:
Sweeny, K., Nguyen, D.T.N., Simms, K., Keane, A., Bateson, D. and Canfell, K. 2023, An Investment Case Study on HPV Vaccination in Viet Nam, Ministry of Health (Vietnam), and UNFPA, Hanoi.
Media release 10 May 2023.
News item in Viet Nam News 11 May 2023.
Modelling of Impact of Vaccines in Australia 2021
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Kim Sweeny
Funded by: Shawview Consulting Australia Pty Ltd
Description: VISES worked together with Shawview Consulting on a project to model the economic, productivity and perhaps other societal benefits to Australia from Australia’s National Immunisation Program.
Output:
Shawview Consulting 2021, Valuing Vaccines: Ensuring Australia’s Access to Vaccines Today, December, Sydney.
Cost-benefit Analysis of Health
Interventions to Improve Labour Productivity in 20 Countries 2019-2020
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Kim Sweeny, John Symons (VISES)
Funded by: US Chamber of Commerce
Description: This is a study of health effects on productivity globally and in
about 20 countries. It entails investigating health investments focussed on
disease conditions that are especially important for work force
participation. This includes the diseases which have a high impact
on absenteeism and presenteeism such as mental disorders (depression) and high burden diseases such as
cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancers, diabetes and respiratory
diseases.
Output:
Rasmussen, B., Sweeny, K., Welsh, A., Kumnick, M., Reeve, M. and Dayal, P. 2020, Increasing Social and Economic Benerits Globally: Rates of Return on Health Investments, US Chamber of Commerce, Washington DC and VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne.
See USCC press release, 21 September 2020.
COVID-19 Impact on Child Marriage 2020
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, John Symons
Funded by: Avenir Health
Description: To model the estimated impact of COVID-19 on meeting the UNFPA Transformative Result of ending child marriage. Further work from previous UNFPA project on the cost of eliminating child marriage.
Output:
UNFPA, Avenir Health, Johns Hopkins University and Victoria University 2020, Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Planning and Ending Gender-based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation and Child Marriage, Interim Technical Note, New York.
See UNFPA news on cost of COVID on child marriage.
Evaluation: Measuring Cost Effectiveness and Return
on Investment (ROI) of the WorkWell Program 2019-2020
Investigators: Kim Sweeny, Bruce Rasmussen, Alison Welsh (VISES)
Funded by: WorkSafe Victoria
Description: The WorkWell program is a five year, $50M Victorian
state government-funded program being delivered by WorkSafe
Victoria, in partnership with the Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS). WorkWell was launched in 2017 to provide
employers and employees with innovative, evidence-based approaches
to promote mental health and wellbeing in the workplace and prevent
mental illness and mental injury. VISES will design and develop a
framework that measures ROI for the WorkWell program and the program
elements, including an analysis on the social return on investment
that result from or can be attributed to the intervention of the
WorkWell program.
Report:
Sweeny, K. and Rasmussen, B. 2019, Evaluation of the WorkWell Program: Initial Report, Report for the Victorian Department of Health and
Human Services (DHHS), VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne.
Cost of Eliminating Child Marriage and Intimate Partner
Violence 2019
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Peter Sheehan, Neelam Maharaj (VISES)
Funded by: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Partner: Johns Hopkins University
Description: This is part of a UNFPA effort for ending child early and
enforced marriage by 2030. This project investigated the costs
of the elimination of the harmful practice of child marriage and
gender-based violence. The activities were conducted in line with the cooperative priorities to cost three transformative results presented at the ICPD25 summit in Nariobi in November 2019, where over 8,300 delegates from about 170 countries united behind the Nairobi Statement, which establishes a shared agenda to complete the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action, remarkable in the recognition that reproductive health and rights, as well as women's empowerment and gender equality, are cornerstones of population and development programmes.
Outputs:
Rasmussen, B., Maharj, N. et al. 2020, 'Cost of ending child marriage', in UNFPA, Costing the Three Transformative Results, New York, chap. 4.
Rasmussen, B., Symons, J. and Maharaj, M. and Madonia, K. 2020, ‘Promised, given, traded, sold’, in UNFPA, State of the World Population: Against My Will, New York, pp. 94-113.
Investment Framework Case Study: Estimating
the Impacts and Opportunity Costs of Social Sector Investments for
Adolescents (10–19 years) in Burundi 2019
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Peter Sheehan, Kim Sweeny, John
Symons (VISES)
Funded by: UNICEF
Description: This project will address the following questions: (i)
What is the package intervention for adolescents (10-19 years of
age) that will ensure the best return on investment in terms of
economic and human development terms of GDP growth, National income
growth, improvement in the Human Development Index, poverty rate and
child deprivation, reduction of social inequalities? (ii) What would
be the total cost of investing in the high impact interventions for
adolescents; total and by type of intervention/service? (iii) How
many adolescents will need to be reached across different investment
areas to achieve intended results by 2030; total per year and by
type of intervention/service? (iv) What are the long-term impact
scenarios (2020, 2025, 2030) for adolescents based on implementation
of the investment framework and a greater focus on high impact
interventions?
Report:
Rasmussen, B., Sheehan, P., Sweeny, K., Symons, J. and Maharah, N. 2019, Adolescent Investment Case Burundi: Estimating the Impacts of Social Sector Investments for Adolescents, Final Report to UNICEF Burundi, VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne.
UNICEF Burundi Report.
UNICEF Burundi Summary Report.
UNICEF Burundi video.
VU news on report.
UNFPA news on cost of COVID on child marriage.
A Case for National Investment in
Adolescent Health and Wellbeing in India 2019
Investigators: Peter Sheehan, Bruce Rasmussen, Kim
Sweeny (VISES)
Partner: Public Health Foundation of India
Funded by: UNFPA
Description: The project commissioned by the UNFPA, has the following
objectives: (i) To examine and estimate
the costs and benefits of several interventions identified that
promote healthy physical growth and socio-economic development
during the period of adolescence; (ii) To carry out this exercise
both at the National Level and four States in the Indian context;
and (iii) Too communicate the evidence to various stakeholders,
including government at national and state levels.
Outputs:
Selvaraj, S., Chaudhuri, C., Karan, A., Sheehan, P., Rasmussen, B. et al. 2020, The Potential Benefits and Costs of Interventions in Adolescent Well-being in India: Evidence from Return on Investment Models, Research Paper, Victoria Institute of Strategic Economic Studies, Victoria University, Melbourne.
Rasmussen, B., Maharaj, N., Karan, A., Symons, J., Selvaraj, S., Kumar, R., Kumnick, M. and Sheehan, P. 2021, ‘Evaluating interventions to reduce child marriage in India’, Journal of Global Health Reports, vol. 5, e2021044.
The Impact of Ill Health on Retirement Savings in Australia 2018
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Kim Sweeny, Neelam
Maharaj, Alison Welsh
Funded by: McKell Institute
Description: This project develops models to provide estimates of
the economic impact of retirement due to ill health and the
implications for superannuation balances. Bruce Rasmussen
was interviewed by Channel 7 which was included in a news bulletin on the study.
Report:
Rasmussen, B., Sweeny, K., Welsh, A. and Maharaj, N.
2018,
Our Health, Our Wealth: The Impact of Ill Health on Retirement
Savings in Australia, Report to McKell Institute, VISES,
Victoria University, Melbourne, 43 pp.
APEC Health Financing 2016-2017
Investigator: Bruce Rasmussen (VISES)
Funded by: APEC 2016-2017
Description:
In October 2016, Bruce Rasmussen was nominated Executive Board
Member at the APEC Senior Finance Officials’ Meeting (SFOM) in Lima
Peru, where he was invited to present on financing options for
investing in health.
In 2017, he was appointed Co-chair (Academic) of the APEC Life
Sciences Innovation Forum (LSIF), leading a program aimed at
encouraging APEC developing economies to consider adopting blended
and other innovative approaches to increase funding for health.
He was invited to attend and present at the APEC SFOM at Ninh Binh, Vietnam, 18-19 May 2017, where senior
officials discussed recent economic and financial development
including key issues and risks for APEC economies and appropriate
policy responses. Session topics included implementation of the Cebu
Action Plan, long-term investment in infrastructure, base erosion
and profit sharing, fiscal and economic impacts of ill-health,
disaster risk financing, and financial inclusion and
promote finance access in supporting
sustainable agro and rural development.
Bruce Rasmussen and Kim Sweeny also made presentations on two
days of the meetings at the 7th APEC High-level Meeting on Health
and the Economy in August 23, attended by some 200 delegates from
APEC economies and international organizations. In his
opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam emphasized that
Asia-Pacific faces challenges in human health and its population is
ageing at a rapid pace. “An investment in health is an investment in
development,” he told the gathering. “Sharing policy successes and
failures and applying lessons learned is critical to moving APEC
member economies towards the common goal of a healthy Asia-Pacific.”
On 24 August, the Vice Minister of Health, H.E. Nguyen Viet Tien
chaired the APEC Policy Dialogue on HPV and Cervical Cancer and APEC
Cervical Cancer Expert Group Workshop where delegates shared
information on the situation of cervical cancer in their respective
economies as well practices of combating HPV spreading and cervical
cancer. Bruce Rasmussen presented at the IV: Panel Discussion: The
HPV Vaccine – One of the Best Investments in the Health of Young
Women of this Workshop.
Presentations:
Rasmussen, B. 2017, 'Introducing the Return on HPV Vaccine Study: A
Case for Global Investment in the Capabilities of Adolescents'
invited presentation to the Policy Dialogue on HPV and Cervical
Cancer and APEC Cervical Cancer Expert Group Workshop, 7th APEC
High-level Meeting on Health and the Economy, IV: Panel Discussion:
The HPV Vaccine – One of the Best Investments in the Health of Young
Women, Ho Chi Minh City, 24 August 2017.
Sweeny, K. 2017, 'The Investment Case for a Human Papilloma Virus
Vaccination Program', invited presentation to the Policy Dialogue on
HPV and Cervical Cancer and APEC Cervical Cancer Expert Group
Workshop, 7th APEC High-level Meeting on Health and the Economy, IV:
Panel Discussion: The HPV Vaccine – One of the Best Investments in
the Health of Young Women of this Workshop, Ho Chi Minh City, 24
August 2017.
Rasmussen, B. 2017, 'Building the Foundations for Sustainable
Development: A Case for Global Investment in the Capabilities of
Adolescents', invited presentation to the 7th APEC High level
Meeting on Health and the Economy, Session 5: Plenary Panel on
Making the Best Investments in Adolescent Health and Well-being, Ho
Chi Minh City, 23 August 2017.
Rasmussen, B. 2017, ‘Ways to
Address the Fiscal and Economic Impacts of Ill-Health’,
presentation to the APEC Senior Finance Official’s Meeting,
Session 5: Joint Discussion Between SFOM and HWG/LSIF, Ninh Binh, Vietnam, 18-19 May 2017.
Rasmussen, B. 2016, ‘Health
as an Investment: Measuring Value to Create Financing Options’,
presentation to APEC Senior Finance Officials’ Meeting “Strengthening
Public Policy for an Integrated and Resilient Asia-Pacific Region”,
Session 4: LSIF And HWG Work on Fiscal and Economic Impacts of Ill
Health, Lima, Peru, 13 October 2016.
Global Study on Health and the Economy 2016
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Peter Sheehan and Kim Sweeny
Funded by: US Chamber of Commerce (USCC)
Description: This study measured the impact of wellness on workforce
productivity in global markets. Bruce Rasmussen was invited by the
USCC to present the report at their Global Initiative on Health and
Economy meeting in Washington DC on 15 April 2016. The USCC media
release stated the report was "the first of its kind to examine
productivity losses that arise from absenteeism, presenteeism and
early retirement".
Report:
Rasmussen, B., Sweeny, K. and Sheehan, P. 2016,
Health and the Economy: The Impact of Wellness on Workforce
Productivity in Global Markets, Report to the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce’s Global Initiative on Health and Economy, Washington, DC,
April, 28 pp.
Investment in Improving
Health, Education and other Outcomes for Adolescents 2015-2017
Investigators: Peter Sheehan (VISES), Bruce Rasmussen (VISES),
Kim Sweeny (VISES), Pauline Rose (Cambridge University), George
Patton (University of Melbourne), Babette Wils
(Independent Consultant), Eric Howard (Whiting Moyne P/L),
Angela Taft (Judith Lumley Centre, LaTrobe University)
Funded by: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Description: To document the return to interventions to improve the
welfare of adolescents aged 10-19 years in 74 developing
countries around the world, for a period to 2035. The investigators
identified a range of interventions to
estimate their cost and their like impact in terms of adolescent
outcomes, estimated the economic and social benefits flowing from
these improved adolescent outcomes, and brought together the annual
flows of costs and benefits out 2035 on a net present value
basis.
It was found that investing in adolescent health and education
could bring 10-fold economic benefit. This generation of young
people can transform all our futures. There is no more pressing task
in global health than ensuring they have the resources to do so.
There are 1.8 billion adolescents in the world today – the largest
generation of adolescents in the world’s history. Investments in
adolescent health and wellbeing will not only transform the lives of
girls and boys around the world, but will also generate high
economic returns, especially in low income countries. The analysis
and results were published in The Lancet on 2 April 2017. On
20 April 2017, the World Bank discussed adolescents as part of their
flagship event at the Spring Meetings in Washington DC (details
here). Copies of the Lancet Adolescent Health Commission paper
and The Lancet investment case paper were available at the event.
Output journal article:
Sheehan, P., Sweeny, K., Rasmussen, B., Wils, A., Friedman, H.S., Mahon, J., Patton, G.C., Sawyer, S.M., Howard, E., Symons, J., Stenberg, K., Chalasani, S., Maharaj, N., Reavley, N., Shi, H., Fridman, M., Welsh, A., Nsofor, E. and Laski, L. 2017,
Building the foundations for sustainable development: A case for global investment in the capabilities of adolescents, The Lancet, , vol.
390, no. 10104, pp. 1792-1806.
Sheehan, P., Sweeny, K., Rasmussen, B. et al. 2017,
Supplementary Appendix to Building the foundations for sustainable development: A case for global
investment in the capabilities of adolescents, The Lancet, online 20
April 2017.
The
Lancet
Media Release on 'Building the foundations for sustainable
development'.
Published supporting papers:
Sheehan, P. and Shi, H. 2019, ‘Employment and productivity benefits of enhanced educational outcomes: A preliminary modelling approach’, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. S44-S51.
Symons, J., Howard, E., Sweeny, K., Kumnick, M. and Sheehan, P. 2019, ‘Reduced road traffic injuries for young people: A preliminary investment analysis’, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. S34-S43.
Rasmussen, B., Maharaj, N., Sheehan, P. and Friedman, H. 2019, ‘Evaluating the employment benefits of education and targeted interventions to reduce child marriage’, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. S16-S24.
Sweeny, K., Friedman, H.S., Sheehan, P., Fridman, M. and Shi, H. 2019, ‘A health-system based investment case for adolescent health’, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. S8-S15.
Wils, B., Sheehan, P. and Shi, H. 2019, ‘Better schooling outcomes for adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: Projections of cost-effective approaches’, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. S25-S33.
Other supporting papers:
Wils, A. 2019,
Learning Outcomes Analysis and Estimates, Supporting Paper for the UNFPA Project (RFP ID UNFPA/USA/14/037) Investment in
Improving Health, Education and other Outcomes for Adolescents, VISES,
Victoria University, Melbourne, March.
Wils, A. 2016,
Technical Aspects of the Education Model, Supporting
Paper to the UNFPA Project (RFP ID UNFPA/USA/14/037) Investment in Improving
Health, Education and other Outcomes for Adolescents, VISES,
Victoria University, Melbourne.
Wils, A. 2015,
Education, Marriage and Adolescent Welfare: Challenges, Programs and
Projections, Supporting Paper to the UNFPA Project (RFP ID UNFPA/USA/14/037)
Investment in Improving Health, Education and other Outcomes for
Adolescents, VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne, December.
Impact of Health on Payment Pensions 2015
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Kim Sweeny and Peter Sheehan
Funded by: US Chamber of Commerce (USCC)
Description: The project comprised four studies estimating the
economic cost of early retirement due to ill health. The first focussed
on a review of the pension systems for each of six economies
(Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines and the United
States) and the generation of likely scenarios modelled to determine
the effect of reducing early retirement due to ill health, through
proven, cost effective, general and workplace interventions aimed at
specific causes of ill health. The second study extended the first
study and provided estimates of the economic cost of early
retirement due to ill health for 10 economies (Brazil, Colombia,
India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
and Turkey). The third study investigated the impact of health on
worker attendance and productivity, and documents the limited
information available on the current prevalence and expected future
incidence of key NCDs for 12 economies (Brazil, Colombia, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
South Africa, Turkey). The fourth study provided estimates of the
economic cost due to productivity losses arising from absenteeism,
presenteeism and early retirement due to ill health in Brazil.
Findings of this report were presented to the Brazil-USCC at a conference in Brazilia.
Reports:
Rasmussen, B., Sweeny, K. and Sheehan, P. 2015,
Cost of Early Retirement Due to Ill Health, Report to the APEC
Business Advisory Council and US Chamber of Commerce, VISES,
Victoria University, Melbourne, July.
Rasmussen, B., Sweeny, K. and Sheehan, P. 2015,
Cost of Early Retirement Due to Ill Health: Phase II Countries,
Report to the APEC Business Advisory Council and US Chamber of
Commerce, VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne, October.
Sweeny, K., Rasmussen, B. and Sheehan, P. 2015,
The Impact of Health on Worker Attendance and Productivity in Twelve
Countries, Report to the APEC Business Advisory Council and US
Chamber of Commerce, VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne, October.
Rasmussen, B., Sweeny, K. and Sheehan, P. 2015,
Economic Costs of
Absenteeism, Presenteeism and Early Retirement Due to Ill Health: A
Focus on Brazil, Report to the Brazil-US Business Council, the US
Chamber of Commerce and the APEC Business Advisory Council, VISES,
Victoria University, Melbourne, November.
Rasmussen, B. 2015, ‘Economic Costs of Absenteeism, Presenteeism and
Early Retirement Due to Ill Health: A Focus on Brazil’, presented at
the Conference on the Impact of Health and Productivity, Brazil-US
Chamber of Commerce, Brazilia, 8 December 2015.
Scaling-Up Depression Treatment: A Return on Investment 2015
Chief investigators: Dan Chisholm (WHO); and Kim Sweeny, Bruce
Rasmussen and Peter Sheehan (VISES); in collaboration with the
Trimbos Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands and Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Funded by: World Health Organisation (WHO) and Mitchell Institute
Description: Depression and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent
and disabling conditions, which not only result in an enormous
amount of human misery and lost health, but also lost economic
output. This study sets out the global investment case for a
scaled-up response to the public health and economic burden of
depression and anxiety disorders.
Output journal article:
Chisholm, D., Sweeny, K., Sheehan, P., Rasmussen, B., Smit,
F., Cuijpers, P. and Saxena, S. 2015, ‘Scaling-up treatment of depression and anxiety: A global return on investment analysis’, Lancet
Psychiatry, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 415-424.
Measurement Framework for Economic and Social Costs of NCDs 2015
Investigators: Melanie Bertram, Jeremy Lauer and Dan Chisholm (WHO),
Kim Sweeny, Peter Sheehan and Bruce Rasmussen (VISES), in
collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Nepal, WHO, Nepal and
Ministry of Health, Barbados
Funded by: WHO and Mitchell Institute
Description: As the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
continues to rise, there is an urgent need to estimate the costs and
benefits of an investment strategy related to the prevention and
control of NCDs. Results from an investment-case analysis can
provide important new evidence to governments and donors for use in
decision making. This study uses the OneHealth Tool cardiovascular
disease cost and impact modules to calculate the health benefits and
costs of scaling up a package of prevention and treatment
interventions for CVD from 2015-2030. Economic benefits were then
calculated, in terms of increased workforce participation and
productivity and the economic benefits of increased healthy life
expectancy.
Output journal article:
Bertram, M.Y., Sweeny, K., Lauer, J.A., Chisholm, D., Sheehan, P.,
Rasmussen, B., Upreti, S.R., Dixit, L.P., George, K. and Deane, S.
2018, ‘Investing
in non-communicable diseases: An estimation of the
return on investment for prevention and treatment services’, The
Lancet, vol. 391, no. 10134, pp. 2071–2078.
PBS Modelling 2015
Investigator: Kim Sweeny
Funded by: Medicines Australia
Description: This study estimates the savings to the Commonwealth
Government arising from the introduction of the Simplified Price
Disclosure (SPD) arrangements for medicines listed on the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
Report:
Sweeny, K. 2015, The Impact of Simplified Price Disclosure
on the PBS and Changes to Mandatory Price Cut Levels, Draft Report
to Medicines Australia, VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne,
January.
The Mitchell Health and Education Indicators Project Youth
Transition Pathways 2013-2014
Investigators: Bruce Rasmussen, Peter Sheehan, Neelam Maharaj and
Alison Welsh, in collaboration with Prof. Frank Lichtenberg
(Columbia University)
Funded by: The Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy
Other partners: Public Health Information Development Unit,
University of Adelaide and Brimbank City Council
Description:
To develop a set of health and education indicators reflective of
population health and education pathways to outcomes.
Discussion papers:
Rasmussen, B. and Maharaj, N. 2014, The
Mitchell Institute Health and Education Indicators: Conceptual
Foundations, VISES Discussion Paper, Victoria University,
Melbourne.
Maharaj, N. 2015, Evidence of Health and Education in Early
Childhood Across the Life Course, VISES Discussion Paper, Victoria
University, Melbourne.
Rasmussen, B. and Welsh, A. 2014, Youth
Transition Pathways, VISES Discussion Paper, Victoria
University, Melbourne.
Rasmussen, B. 2015, Family Formation, VISES Discussion Paper,
Victoria University, Melbourne.
Maharaj, N. 2015, Evidence of Health and Education in Prime Age Across the Life Course, VISES Discussion Paper, Victoria
University, Melbourne.
Treatment of Mental Health: With a Focus on Comorbidity 2015
Investigators: Kim Sweeny and Hui Shi
Funded by: Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
and Mitchell Institute
Description: A study on the estimation of various aspects of the
economic impact of the combined burden of co-morbid physical and
chronic mental illnesses for Australia and New Zealand. This involved a set of direct and indirect costs of treatment and range of
opportunity costs for the individual and society.
Report:
Sweeny, K. and Shi, H. 2016, ‘The
Economic Cost of Serious Mental Illness and Comorbidities in
Australia and New Zealand’, Report prepared for The Royal
Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, VISES, Victoria
University, Melbourne, 48 pp.
Investing in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: Analysis of the
Costs, Benefits and Returns 2013
Investigators: Peter Sheehan, Bruce Rasmussen and Kim Sweeny
Funding by: The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH),
World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva
Description: Study on the returns to large scale investments in reproductive,
maternal and child health for a large number of countries.
Report:
Stenberg, K. et al. 2013, The
Economic Benefits of Investing in Women’s and Children’s Health,
PMNCH Knowledge Summary 24, PMNCH, 4 pp.
Journal article: Stenberg, K. et al. 2014, 'Advancing social and economic development by investing in women's and
children's health: A new global investment framework', The
Lancet, vol. 383, no. 9925, pp. 1333-1354.
Returns on Investment in the Continuum of Care for Reproductive,
Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health 2013-2014
Investigators: Kim Sweeny and Peter Sheehan
Funded by: Disease Control Network
Funded 2013-2014
Description:
An extension of the study on the returns to large scale investments
in in reproductive, maternal and child health for a large number of
countries (see details above).
Output book chapter:
Stenberg, K., Sweeny, K., Axelson, H.,
Temmerman, M. and Sheehan, P. 2015, ‘Returns
on investment in the continuum of care for reproductive, maternal,
newborn, and child health’, in R. Black, M. Temmerman, R.
Laxminarayan and N. Walker (eds), Disease Control Priorities, 3rd
Edition (DCP3) - Volume 2 on Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and
Child Health (RMNCH), chap. 16, Department of Global Health,
University of Washington and the Institute for Health Metrics and
Evaluation, Washington DC.
The Impact of Health on Worker Attendance and Productivity in the
APEC Region 2014
Investigators: Peter Sheehan, Bruce Rasmussen, Kim Sweeny, Neelam
Maharaj and Margarita Kumnick
Funded by: APEC Business Advisory Council Secretariat and US PhRMA
Description:
Estimates the potential economic gains from reducing poor health on
worker attendance and productivity in 6 APEC countries (China, Peru,
Malaysia, Philippines, Australia and USA).
Report:
Sheehan, P., Rasmussen, B. and Sweeny, K. 2014, The
Impact of Health on Worker Attendance and Productivity in the APEC
Region, report to APEC Business Advisory Council, VISES, Victoria University,
Melbourne, July, 45 pp.
The Influence of Childhood Circumstances on Adult Health 2014
Investigators: Kim Sweeny
Funded by: Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy
Description:
A review of research on the social determinants of health, the
influence of childhood and maternal health and socioeconomic and
other status on future adult health. Includes a review of economic
evaluations of policies to mitigate these influences.
Report:
Sweeny, K. 2014, The
Influence of Childhood Circumstances on Adult Health, Draft
Report to The Mitchell Institute for Health and Education Policy,
VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne, March, 19 pp.
Economic Evaluation of the Impact of the Pharmacogenomics
Decision Support System 2013-2014
Investigator: Kim Sweeny
Funded by: Gene FX Health Pty Ltd
Description:
An economic evaluation of the impact of the pharmacogenenomics
decision support system (PDSS).
Report:
Sweeny, K. 2014, Pharmacogenomic Proof of Concept Study:
Economic Analysis, Report to Gene FX Health Pty Ltd, VISES,
Victoria University, Melbourne.
The Impact of Further PBS Reforms 2012
Investigator: Kim Sweeny
Funded by: Medicines Australia
Funding 2012: $64,091
Report:
Sweeny, K. 2013,
The Impact of Further PBS Reforms,
Report to Medicines Australia, VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne, April, 29 pp.
Sweeny, K. 2013, The Impact of Further PBS Reforms: Further
Modelling with Different Assumptions about Biological Medicines,
Report to Medicines Australia, VISES, Victoria University, Melbourne, May, 13 pp.
Investing in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: A Preliminary
Analysis of the Costs, Benefits and Returns 2012
Investigators: Peter Sheehan, Bruce Rasmussen and Kim Sweeny; in
collaboration with Karin Stenberg (WHO), John Beard (WHO) and Henrik
Axelson (PMNCH)
Funding by: The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH),
World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva and APEC Technical
Assistance and Training Facility (TATF)
Description:
A study prepared for the APEC High-Level Meeting on Health and the
Economy, at St Petersburg in June 2012. It investigates in a
preliminary way, the costs and benefits of large scale investment in
health innovation in relation to reproductive, maternal, newborn and
child health for six APEC economies: China, Indonesia, Papua New
Guinea, Peru, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Report:
Sheehan, P., Sweeny, K., Rasmussen, B. and World Health
Organization (WHO) 2012, Investing in Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: Analysis of the Costs,
Benefits and Returns, study prepared for the LSIF APEC
High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy, St Petersburg, 27 June
2012.
Contact:
Bruce Rasmussen |