On the importance of partnerships between public health research institutions and health economics faculty in universities, for the engagement of non-economics students in health economics training: perspectives from Brazil

Since the second half of the last century health economics (HE) became a field of significant interest. Health economists are in demand as are healthcare professionals with HE knowledge and skills. However, the challenge is training health economists and healthcare professionals in HE. The role of health economists highlights the importance of the partnerships between healthcare institutions and economics universities and colleges to encourage economists to engage in HE. A curriculum in HE should combine healthcare-related disciplines, experience in the healthcare setting, and an adequate didactic background. Health economists teaching HE to healthcare professionals afford a broader perspective from the field of economics with positive consequences in healthcare systems. Further, experience in healthcare settings gives economists the possibility of using active learning strategies based on real problems to enrich the transmission of knowledge of HE to healthcare professionals.