Health Policy, Economics, Systems and Services

Health systems aim to improve the population’s health and the quality of the healthcare provided, while limiting health costs, guaranteeing equity and having a sufficient number of healthy and well-trained healthcare staff available.

Research into health systems and services is particularly important, since health needs are increasing and becoming more complex, which requires new healthcare models. It is still unclear how to organize health systems in such a way that they provide maximum benefit to populations while keeping costs at an acceptable level. Especially since, despite the resources dedicated to healthcare, it is clear that there is significant room for improvement in the quality of healthcare (e.g. medical errors, over- or under-medicalization, equity). It is also important to bear in mind that digitization and mass data in the health sector pose new challenges.

Furthermore, to remodel health systems and services, we must consider the realities and constraints facing all the stakeholders, and train and retain a sufficient number of healthcare professionals who are competent in their fields, while taking new health professions into account.

Unisanté has expertise in the field of research into health systems and services, in general, and into the assessment and quality of healthcare, health economics and policy, in particular. Its research activities aim to assess health interventions and policies and public polices in other fields as well as to provide data for the allocation of resources in health systems.

Our researchers can adopt a modern methodological approach, including mixed methods and realistic assessments. They take into consideration quasi-experimental models and cohorts, the use of multi-source data, and emerging research instruments such as the outcome and experience measures reported by patients.

Unisanté also undertakes research mandates to help cantonal and federal governments to develop public policies that address the challenges of the ageing population, including the implications for long-term health systems and policies.