Join experts from Results for Development (R4D) at the 2025 International Health Economics Association (iHEA) International Congress. Held every two years, the congress is a leading global forum for health economists to share cutting-edge research, discuss new methodological approaches, and explore how evidence can inform health policy and practice. Now in its 16th edition, iHEA brings together a diverse community committed to advancing equitable and efficient health systems worldwide. This year’s congress is taking place July 20–23 in Bali, Indonesia.
R4D experts are contributing to several sessions throughout the week alongside country and global partners. Our team will share insights from our work on strategic purchasing, provider payment reform, primary health care financing, evidence generation to support next-generation health system reforms, and more.
R4D Sessions (all times are local):
Sunday, July 20, 2025 (Pre-Congress Sessions)
1. Strategic Purchasing for Universal Health Coverage: Policy enablers vs deterrents
🕒 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
📍Karangasem (2), Bali International Convention Centre
Organizers: R4D, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Asian Development Bank (ADB)
R4D Speakers: Cheryl Cashin, Agnes Munyua
This session will explore how strategic purchasing can improve resource allocation, accountability and service quality to advance UHC. Participants will learn key principles, enablers and challenges of Strategic Purchasing in resource-constrained settings.
Note: Pre-congress sessions require separate registration
To learn more about the session, click here.
2. How can countries overcome bottlenecks to Primary Health Care (PHC) provider fund flows and provider autonomy in LMICs? Experiences from members of the Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage (JLN)
🕒 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
📍 Singaraja (2), Bali International Convention Centre
Organizer: R4D
R4D Speakers: Adwoa Twum, Rachel Gates-Gessel, Cheryl Cashin, Agnes Munyua, Aditia Nugroho, Joe Kutzin, Luis Bernal Pulido (consultant)
Additional Speakers:
- Dr. Amy Taruc – Medical Officer V, Division Chief; Department of Health – Center for Health Development, Philippines
- Dr. Selamawit Getachew Hiruy – Health System Strengthening Advisor to MOH and CCG Coordinator; Ministry of Health Ethiopia
- Dr. Mercy Wanjala – Embu County PHC Coordinator; Family Physician, Kenya
- Ratu Martiningsih – Team leader of Financing for Primary Health Care JLN Program; Ministry of Health of Indonesia
- Prof. Ali Ghufron Mukti – President Director; BPJS Kesehatan, Indonesia
This participatory session explores how countries are addressing bottlenecks in PHC funding flows, payment mechanisms and provider autonomy. Practitioners from four LMICs will share real-world strategies to improve resource allocation and deliver high-quality PHC, with breakout discussions focused on practical solutions and lessons learned.
Note: Pre-congress sessions require separate registration.
To learn more about the session, click here.
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Strategic Purchasing for UHC
🕒 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
📍 Jasmine (3), Bali International Convention Centre
Moderator: Agnes Munyua (R4D)
This session will explore how strategic purchasing is being used across diverse country contexts to improve health system performance and progress toward UHC. Presenters will share experiences from Malawi, Tanzania, Thailand, China and Indonesia, highlighting innovations in payment methods, provider behavior and financing mechanisms to strengthen PHC and maternal and neonatal services. The session will also examine how provider perceptions, system reforms, and procurement strategies influence the effectiveness of purchasing arrangements.
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
1. Evidence to address the next generation issues following the Lancet Global Health Commission
🕒 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
📍 Medan (2), Bali International Convention Centre
Organizer: R4D
Session Chair: Kara Hanson (LSHTM, iHEA President)
Session Presenters:
- Manjiri Bhawalkar – World Bank
- Hélène Barroy – WHO
- Prastuti Soewondo – Ministry of Health, Indonesia
- Yewedalem Tesfaye – Ministry of Health, Ethiopia
Discussant: Cheryl Cashin – R4D
This session will explore “next generation” challenges in financing PHC and share emerging evidence on how countries are tackling persistent bottlenecks. Presenters will examine strategies such as tracking PHC resource flows, using program-based budgeting, addressing fragmentation, and improving links between PHC financing and medicine procurement. The session will highlight practical reforms aimed at improving equity, efficiency and frontline service delivery while identifying unanswered questions and a future research agenda to strengthen PHC financing.
2. Assessing fiscal space for health in Nigeria and increasing primary health care facilities spending
🕒 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Denpasar A (2), Bali International Convention Centre
Presenter: Stanley Ezenwa (R4D, and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Nigeria)
In this session, Stanley Ezenwa will present findings from Nigeria’s Fiscal Space for Health initiative, which assessed PHC financing in key regions of the country. Using mixed methods, the study identified significant gaps between budget allocations and actual disbursements to PHC facilities, along with critical weaknesses in financial management and staffing. The session will highlight these challenges and propose practical, scalable reforms to strengthen fiscal frameworks, improve resource flow, and enhance accountability offering insights that can inform PHC financing efforts across other LMICs.
