The Future of Cancer in Ireland: Health Economic Perspectives webinar series

Our 2023 webinar series ‘The Future of Cancer in Ireland: Health Economic Perspectives’ aims to facilitate discussion and introduce new perspectives on value‐based healthcare, what this looks like in the context of cancer care and what value‐based health initiatives, such as a greater focus on disease prevention, outcomes and patient centricity, mean for the cancer services in Ireland. Hosted and managed by the Healthcare Outcomes Research Centre in the RCSI School of Population Health, the series will comprise of four webinars featuring national and international experts, policy makers, healthcare professionals and patients.

The webinar series is in association with Janssen Sciences Ireland, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Ireland and EY, and moderated by Dr Ronan Glynn, Health Sector Lead, EY Ireland and former Deputy CMO. The webinars will take place in March, May, September and November 2023.

Watch the video

In this webinar, speakers discussed various aspects of cancer programmes and their value for patients, their families and the general population, and explored if sufficient resources are being invested in cancer services, if services are reaching the right groups at the right times, if they are acceptable to patients, and if they represent good value for money.

The speakers were Prof. Deirdre Murray, Director of the National Cancer Registry Ireland; Dr Thomas Hofmarcher, Research Director at the Swedish Institute for Health Economics; and Rachel Morrogh, Director of Advocacy and External Affairs at the Irish Cancer Society, and the event was moderated by Dr Ronan Glynn.

Useful resources

Cancer Control in Ireland – Prof. Deirdre Murray PDF | 4302 KB The Irish cancer burden, costs and access to care in European context – Dr Thomas Hofmarcher PDF | 655.5 KB Future of Cancer – Rachel Morrogh PDF | 1145.2 KB

You can watch the video included in Rachel Morrogh’s presentation here.

Watch the video

Our speakers discussed value assessment frameworks for cancer treatment, combination treatments, multi-indications, cell therapies and precision oncology, with reflection on public and patient involvement into health research; challenges and solutions, and representation at different stages of the research lifecycle.

The speakers were Dr Avril Kennan, CEO at Health Research Charities Ireland; Dr Susan Spillane, Deputy Director of the HTA Directorate at Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA); and Professor George Crooks, CEO at the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre, Scotland.

The webinar moderator was Dr Ronan Glynn.

Useful resources

HIQA's role in assessment of cancer interventions – Dr Susan Spillane PDF | 3252.2 KB What is value and how do we achieve it? – Dr Avril Kennan PDF | 4931.6 KB

Watch the full webinar

In this webinar, speakers discussed cancer screening and early diagnosis; reflecting on this theme from a population health perspective through the lens of healthcare economists, and alongside current examples of what works well in the Irish healthcare system and the United Kingdom.

The speakers were:

  • Dr Alan Smith, Specialist in Public Health Medicine at the National Screening Service
  • Professor Patrick Redmond, GP and Associate Professor in General Practice at RCSI
  • Dr James O’Mahony, Assistant Professor, School of Economics at UCD
  • Dr Ethna McFerran, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at Patrick G. Johnson Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast.

The event was moderated by Dr Ronan Glynn, Health Sector Lead, EY Ireland and former Deputy CMO.

Useful resources

Cancer screening and early diagnosis – Dr Alan Smith PDF | 2250.7 KB The Case for Lung Cancer – Prof Patrick Redmond PDF | 2002.1 KB Cancer screening and early diagnosis from a health economics perspective – Dr James O'Mahony PDF | 2259.6 KB How long until you turn 55 – Dr Ethna McFerran PDF | 3606.8 KB