International experts meet to explore health economic aspects of palliative care
In November 2007, a two day expert workshop was convened jointly by Cicely Saunders International, King's College London and the Open Society Institute to exchange scientific advancements in health economics research in palliative care. More than fifty leaders in palliative care, social and medical researchers, health economists and policy makers came from all over the world to London to discuss questions, challenges and priorities for research into palliative care costs and financing. Country examples and research reports highlighted the need to evaluate the costs of palliative care for patients, carers, the health system, social service system and voluntary carers. Collaborations were fostered to develop appropriate methods for economic evaluation of the health effects of palliative care.