The Master of Science and Doctoral Program at FEB UGM held a guest lecture titled “Statistics Applied on Health Economics”, featuring Dr. Maria Garcia Reyes, Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of York, UK. The lecture took place in person at the Bakrie Room, 2nd Floor of the MD FEB UGM Building, and was open to both the academic community and the general public interested in health economics.
During the two-hour session, Dr. Garcia Reyes presented two main subtopics: “Introduction to Health Economics” and “The Effect of Income on Health Expenditures.” The lecture aimed to provide a foundational understanding of how economic approaches can be used to analyze health-related issues, and how statistics serve as a crucial tool in data-driven policy-making.
Dr. Garcia Reyes explained that health economics is a field that studies how resources are allocated for healthcare services and how economic factors, such as income, influence individual and household decisions in spending on health. She emphasized the importance of data analysis and statistical methods in measuring the relationship between income levels and public health expenditures.
Using panel data and quantitative methods, researchers can evaluate whether increased income genuinely improves access to quality healthcare or instead widens existing disparities. The lecture also highlighted the importance of inclusive and evidence-based policies in ensuring efficiency and equity within healthcare systems.
This guest lecture reaffirmed FEB UGM’s commitment to delivering contextual and globally relevant education. Participants expressed great enthusiasm and responded positively to the interdisciplinary insights presented, as they offered practical perspectives on how economics can contribute to addressing public health issues in Indonesia and globally.