On the morning of 4 June 2026, presenters from across the globe, including representatives from Colombia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, India, the US and the UK, gathered at Erasmus University Rotterdam for the Erasmus School of Economics–Rotterdam Global Health Initiative-Global Health Economics Workshop. The second edition of the workshop provided a platform for scholarly exchange among health economists studying health and healthcare in resource-constrained settings. Participants shared research findings, discussed methodological challenges, and explored opportunities for future collaboration in global health economics.
Opening the workshop, Prof. Owen O'Donnell expressed his enthusiasm for the high quality of the papers selected by the scientific committee for the two-day programme. The presentations covered a wide range of topics in global health economics. Paul Gertler (University of California, Berkeley) presented research on incentives for pharmacists and patients in Kenya to ensure that antimalarial drugs are provided only to individuals who test positive for malaria. Luiz Felipe Fontes (Insper, Brazil) shared findings on variations in maternal health outcomes associated with racial concordance and discordance between mothers and healthcare providers. Jon Denton-Schneider (Clark University, US) presented on the economic benefits of reducing the incidence of Guinea worm disease, while Martina Björkman Nyqvist (Stockholm School of Economics) delivered the keynote lecture reflecting on the lessons learned from scaling up interventions from successful pilot programmes.
Chair of the workshop, Dr. Carlos Riumallo-Herl, stated that "the workshop showcased the incredible breadth and quality of research being conducted in global health economics today. Across a wide variety of topics and settings, and employing diverse methodological approaches, the presentations demonstrated how rigorous evidence can inform policy decisions and contribute to improving health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries." He highlighted the value of bringing together researchers from different regions to share insights, foster collaboration, and advance evidence-based policymaking.
'Researchers from LMICs bring creative ideas to the Global Health Economics field through their in depth understanding of local norms and household dynamics'
Igna Bonfrer
Director Rotterdam Global Health Initiative
Rotterdam Global Health Initiative Director Dr. Igna Bonfrer reflected on the workshop, noting that "the topics discussed included some of the most pressing challenges facing health systems in resource-constrained settings, including domestic violence associated with rising temperatures, challenges around fertility choices, and discrimination by healthcare providers. Researchers from LMICs bring creative ideas to the Global Health Economics field through their in depth understanding of local norms and household dynamics."
A third edition of the workshop is expected, given the growing interest in sharing and advancing research in global health economics.
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Rotterdam Global Health Initiative (RGHI) is the academic interdisciplinary network initiated and sponsored by the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which has evolved into a vibrant community of global partners across more than 30 low- and middle-income countries.
