Table 3 Organisational mechanisms used by departments of health in Australia in 2004 to secure health economics advice and the economic functions that these mechanisms might serve.
| Â | Internal Mechanisms | External Mechanisms | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Organisational mechanism Function | Qualification s include appreciation of economics or health economics in coursework. | Staff training/NSW Public Health Officer Training Program | Staff with economic qualifications | Specialist H/E training programs | Health economist position | Health economics units | Consultancy for service | Contracted advice | Contracted advice by tender | Collaborative research centres |
1. Appreciation of how economics fits into multi- disciplinary analysis of public health problems | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Â | Â | Â | Â |
2. Advanced appreciation of economics concepts and methods, able to frame issues, formulate questions and obtain advice | Â | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Â | Â | Â |
3. Economic analysis of (simple) problems and issues, requiring literature searches, appraisal, synthesis and interpretation. | Â | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Â |
4. A capacity to respond quickly to emerging and emergency issues | Â | Â | Â | Y | Y | Y | Â | Â | Â | Â |
5. Conducting economics evaluations and other studies, with appropriate methods | Â | Â | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
6. Application of economic findings to priority setting, emerging issues and decision- making | Â | Â | Â | Â | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
7. A priority- driven, policy relevant research program | Â | Â | Â | Â | Y | Y | Â | Y | Y | Y |
8. An investigator-led research program | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Y |