Strengthening International Evidence on Health Inequality Aversion: A Workshop at the Brocher Foundation

Funded by the Brocher Foundation through a grant secured by Professor Nancy Devlin and Marie-Anne Boujaoude, a workshop titled “Strengthening International Evidence on Health Inequality Aversion” was held from November 26th to 28th, 2024, at the Brocher Foundation in Hermance, Switzerland.

Organized by Professor Nancy Devlin, Professor Richard Cookson, Professor Ole Norheim, and Marie-Anne Boujaoude, the workshop focused on the methodology and policy implications of health inequality aversion parameters. It sought to:

• Promote understanding of health equity concepts,
• Reflect on the international evidence generated in the last few years,
• Investigate methodological challenges,
• Address cultural, ethical, and intersectionality considerations,
• Explore the needs and barriers faced by policymakers to trust and apply these methods, and
• Develop a shared agenda for future research and policy initiatives.

The event brought together distinguished researchers, and experts in health economics, bioethics, and ethics from around the globe.

The sessions included rich discussions on the barriers to implementing these methods, cultural and intersectionality issues, framing effects, and cognitive biases in eliciting health inequality aversion parameters. Participants explored innovative ways to make these approaches more accessible and actionable in health technology assessment and decision-making processes .

The presence of a diverse range of expertise fostered an interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. The event highlighted the importance of bridging methodological rigor with practical application to advance equity in health policy.

This workshop serves as a stepping stone for future research and policy initiatives, marking a step forward in the quest for equitable healthcare resource allocation.

The Brocher foundation mission is to encourage research on the ethical, legal and social implications of new medical technologies. Its main activities are to host visiting researchers and to organize symposia, workshops and summer or winter academies. More information on the Brocher foundation program is available at www.fondation-brocher.ch