Program Overview
The Health Economics Training of Trainers (HE TOT) is specialized for health economists who will mentor D2P Unit 2 (Economic Evaluation). This intensive training strengthens skills in decision tree modeling, cost-effectiveness analysis, health economics modelling, and teaching these methods to non-economists.
🎯 Purpose
Unit 2 requires expertise in decision modeling, cost analysis, CEA methods, and health economics modelling to support evidence-based policy decisions.
⏱️ Duration
3-4 days intensive sessions with hands-on Excel workshops, practical modeling exercises, and teaching practice.
👥 Participants
8-15 health economists with formal training in health economics, public health economics, or related field.
📅 Format
Can be delivered nationally or regionally. Regional format enables cross-country learning and collaboration.
🌏 Regional Health Economics TOT
The CDC Foundation organizes regional 4-day Health Economics TOTs for Asian D4H focus countries to address critical health economics modelling capacity gaps.
Regional Approach Benefits
- Expand Regional Pool: Build qualified health economists across multiple countries
- Cross-Country Learning: Share experiences and approaches from different settings
- Collaborative Networks: Foster ongoing regional collaboration and peer support
- Efficient Capacity Building: Train multiple countries simultaneously
Target Countries
Asian D4H Focus Countries:
- Thailand (~4 participants)
- Bangladesh
- Philippines
- Vietnam
- Other Asian D4H countries
Strategic Objectives
- Address health economics modelling capacity gaps
- Equip participants to integrate health economics into future D2P cohorts
- Support evidence-based policy decisions throughout the region
- Build sustainable regional expertise
Learning Objectives
1. Teach Economic Methods
Effectively deliver Unit 2 modules (L09-L13), making complex concepts accessible to non-economists in D2P settings
2. Guide Decision Trees
Support participants in building decision tree models that accurately represent health policy scenarios
3. Mentor Cost Analysis
Help teams develop comprehensive cost inventories and identify appropriate data sources in LMIC contexts
4. Conduct CEA
Guide through cost-effectiveness analysis, calculate ICERs, and interpret results for policy relevance
5. Health Economics Modelling
Apply advanced health economics modelling techniques appropriate for policy evaluation contexts
6. Troubleshoot Issues
Address typical data gaps, modeling challenges, and methodological questions that arise in D2P
4-Day Curriculum
Day 1: Fundamentals & D2P Context
Morning: D2P overview and Unit 2 role, economic evaluation review, teaching economics to non-economists, Unit 2 modules deep dive (L09-L13)
Afternoon: Module L09 (Framing Economic Evaluations) teaching practice, case study walkthrough (e.g., syphilis screening Tanzania), group discussions on framing challenges
Day 2: Decision Tree Modeling & Health Economics Modelling
Morning: Module L10 (Assessing Health Impact), decision tree components and structure, expected value calculations, discounting principles, Excel workshop Part 1
Afternoon: Advanced Excel workshop, health economics modelling techniques, D2P decision tree templates, common modeling mistakes, hands-on practice building models, peer review exercises
Day 3: Cost Analysis & Cost-Effectiveness
Morning: Module L11 (Cost Analysis), developing cost inventories (investment, recurrent, HR costs), finding cost data in LMIC settings, costing challenges and solutions
Afternoon: Module L12 (Economic Evaluation Methods), CEA, CUA, CBA comparison, calculating and interpreting ICERs, WHO thresholds and country-specific contexts, Excel integration workshop
Day 4: Sensitivity Analysis, Mentoring & Practice
Morning: Module L13 (Sensitivity Analysis), one-way and multi-way approaches, probabilistic methods when appropriate, tornado diagrams and visualization, Excel workshop
Afternoon: Mentoring economic evaluations in D2P, troubleshooting common issues, practice presentations of assigned modules, peer feedback sessions, action planning for upcoming D2P cohorts
Who Should Attend?
Required Qualifications
- Advanced degree in health economics, economics, or related field (Master's minimum, PhD preferred)
- Formal training in economic evaluation methods
- Experience conducting CEA, CUA, or HTA
- Proficiency in Excel and statistical software
- Understanding of local health system context
- Commitment to mentor D2P Unit 2
Ideal Candidate Profile
- University faculty teaching health economics
- HTA agency or health economics institute researcher
- Ministry of Health staff with economics expertise
- Consultant with extensive CEA experience
- D2P graduate with economics background (helpful)
- Regional collaborator interested in cross-country learning
Important Skills
- Explain complex concepts in simple terms
- Patience with learners new to economics
- Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving
- Teaching or mentoring experience
- Flexibility adapting methods to data constraints
- Cultural sensitivity for cross-country work
Key Technical Areas
💰 Costing Methods
Ingredients approach, top-down vs bottom-up, opportunity costs, shadow pricing, handling missing/unreliable data
📊 Decision Modeling
Structuring policy problems, defining pathways, probability assignment, time horizon selection, model validation
🔬 Health Economics Modelling
Advanced modeling techniques, parameter estimation, model calibration, validation approaches for policy contexts
📈 Health Outcomes
DALYs, QALYs, life years gained, disability weights, QALY adjustments, finding and validating outcome data
🔬 Analysis Methods
Incremental analysis (ICERs, ICURs), dominance and extended dominance, sensitivity analysis types, threshold analysis
🌍 LMIC Context
WHO-CHOICE methods adaptation, CE thresholds for LMICs, limited data strategies, regional proxies, budget impact vs CEA
🎓 Teaching Techniques
Breaking down complex concepts, effective visual aids, scaffolding from simple to complex, checking understanding
🌏 Regional Collaboration
Cross-country learning approaches, adapting methods to different contexts, building regional networks
Tools & Resources Provided
📊 Excel Templates
- Decision Tree Builder (multiple versions)
- Cost Inventory Workbook
- CEA Calculator with ICER calculations
- Sensitivity Analysis Tools
- Budget Impact Analysis Template
📚 Reference Materials
- WHO Guide to Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
- Economic Evaluation Glossary
- Discount Rate Guidelines by Country
- CE Threshold Reference Tables
- Unit Conversion Tables
📝 Teaching Materials
- Unit 2 Module PowerPoints (L09-L13)
- Case Studies (e.g., Syphilis, Diabetes)
- Facilitator Notes for each module
- Activity Sheets for participants
- Assessment rubrics
🎯 Practice Examples
- Motorcycle helmet policy (Tanzania)
- HPV vaccination (Thailand)
- Diabetes screening (South Africa)
- Tobacco taxation (Multiple countries)
- HIV testing scale-up (Rwanda)
Common Challenges & Solutions
🚧 Limited Cost Data
Solutions: Use proxy costs, adapt regional unit costs, conduct targeted data collection, document assumptions clearly, test through sensitivity analysis
🚧 Overly Complex Models
Solutions: Encourage simple transparent models, focus on key decision points, remember policy question over precision, use simplifying assumptions appropriately
🚧 Excel Challenges
Solutions: Provide step-by-step tutorials, offer pre-built templates, schedule dedicated help sessions, pair strong Excel users with struggling teams
🚧 Unrealistic Results
Solutions: Review all input parameters, check formula logic, validate against published studies, ensure probabilities sum to 1.0, face validity checks
Join the Health Economics TOT
Contact us to learn about upcoming HE TOT workshops, including regional trainings.