How do you think The Swedish Institute for Health Economics – IHE – can contribute to the understanding and development of the Medicon Valley life science ecosystem?
For more than 40 years, IHE has been a bridge builder between the different actors in the health care ecosystem. Through applied health economic research, we contribute to more informed decision-making across the sector. This can take different forms at different levels: societal actors may be interested in a better understanding of the costs associated with a particular condition in order to allocate resources effectively. Health care providers may be interested in optimizing investments in certain areas, such as the optimal design of a screening programme, for instance. Larger life-science companies are interested in providing the economic data necessary to obtain reimbursement for a product, while companies earlier in the development need to ensure that their assets are supported by data that will support the next step in their commercial journey. By working across all these groups, we contribute not only to the individual projects, but also to sharpening the ecosystem as a whole.
If you were to pitch 3 must-read publications from IHE, which ones would you highlight and why?
IHE publishes both traditional peer-reviewed research in academic journals and more policy-oriented work in our own report series IHE Report. For anyone with an interest in oncology, our flagship comparator report on cancer in Europe is a key resource:
Click here to read the report.
The issue of obesity of course top of mind for both decision makers and industry. A report on the societal burden of obesity we published last year has received quite a bit of media attention:
Click here to read the report.
An example of how it is possible to demonstrate the value of digital solutions, this recent paper looks an AI-powered digital tool for pain management:
Click here to read the report.
What are the key objectives of your upcoming conference IHE Forum 2026 3 – 4 September in Lund?
IHE Forum – now on its 32nd iteration – provides an arena for knowledge exchange between academia and decision makers throughout the health care sector. Each year, representatives from all stakeholder groups meet in Lund to discuss a current topic. This year’s theme is “The changing pharmaceutical system – from world politics to regional decision making”. With the
Swedish and international pharmaceutical markets in rapid change, global geopolitical tensions and new international pricing strategies are affecting how and when new medicines reach different markets. At the same time, advanced therapies are developing rapidly, often carrying very high price tags, which place new demands on how medicines are assessed, financed, and introduced into healthcare. Among other things the conference will highlight:
- How does uncertainty in the global environment affect innovation and access to new medicines in Sweden?
- How are pharmaceutical costs developing, and what is driving them?
- What does uncertainty around access to medicines mean in practice?
- How can we ensure access to medicines within sustainable budget frameworks?