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A new study has just been published in the Human Resources for Health Journal. Author and HCD Economics colleague, Dr. Idaira Rodriguez Santana, undertook the research as a PhD student studying at the UK Centre for Health Economics at University of York. The study concludes that a reform intended to enhance the professional and career prospects of Spanish medical students on graduation with respect to international graduates is flawed. The results identified that the reform led to a widening of the gender gap among Spanish medical specialists. Specifically the reform had the unintended consequence of reducing the probability of Spanish female doctors accessing highly demanded specialities thus exacerbating the gender gap.

Even before the emergence of COVID-19, the significance of real world data to European health policy and programmes was growing – notably in the domain of patient-reported outcomes and their integration by healthcare decision makers into resource allocation decision making, typically undertaken by Health Technology Assessment agencies across Europe.

The live Virtual ISPOR Europe 2020 was held 16 – 19 November. The event brought together a vibrant community of experts and thought leaders virtually to help shape the future of HEOR. ISPOR states ‘we looked at fundamental conventions around value, risk, rewards, and the role of public and private sectors to drive innovation, investments and extending progress to broader public health concerns.’ HCD Economics received two Gold research awards from ISPOR. The Gold award is in recognition of having achieved the top 10% of reviewer scores.

Professors Manuel Romero Gómez and Jörn M. Schattenberg, leading experts in liver disease and members of the HCD Economics Expert Reference Group for the GAIN study (Global Assessment of the Impact of NASH (Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis), a socio-economic study), addressed a global audience of over 30 delegates in a webinar intended to share the design and results of the GAIN study (published in 2020 in JHEP Reports the companion Journal to the highly respected Journal of Hepatology) and provide a forum for a live Q and A session, open to all webinar delegates. In his opening remarks Manuel confirmed that GAIN was part of ‘the main game’ to improve the outcome of NASH patients.

The Academic Health Economists Blog exists to provide an online presence for the discussion of issues and developments in health economics. The blog is a place where people can present their views, opinions, ideas, and takes on current affairs from the perspective of health economics. The site has a simple aim; to promote healthy debate in the field, with a sharing of ideas.

George Morgan (HCD Economics) announces publication in BMJ Open of a study investigating surgical trends, outcomes and disparities in minimal invasive surgery for patients with endometrial cancer. A retrospective cohort study undertaken by HCD Economics, led by Professor Esther Moss of University of Leicester, has recently been published in the September 2020 edition of BMJ Open, (http://dx.doi. org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019- 036222). The study objective was to examine surgical outcomes and trends in the implementation of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) use for endometrial cancer (EC).

Dr Flora Peyvandi, Co-Chair, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH 2020) HCD Economics news is reporting our research that was published at ISTH 2020 and our team of health economists also report on ISTH 2020 haemophilia content and latest real world evidence insights from ISTH (for a more comprehensive report, an ‘HCD Economics - RWE perspectives’* dossier is available for all HCD Economics news readers)

The British Liver Trust (BLT), Director of Policy and Communications states in an interview with HCD Economics that the most important message from the results of the GAIN study is the growing burden of NASH and how urgent action is required to improve awareness and early diagnosis of the disease.