The Center of Excellence for Health Economics (CHE) at Chulalongkorn University was a designated WHO Collaborating Center for Health Economics for the SEAR region from 1 Nov 1993 until 31 Mar 2022. The Faculty has provided an undergraduate course in Health Economics to its own students, some short courses for other institutions and for the Ministry of Public Health. Several international workshops
are provided in cooperation with the UNDP, World Bank and World Health Organisation. Research activities intially focused on economic aspects of malaria control, health care financing and disease patterns in Thailand. In 1998 a Master Degree Programme in Economics with specialisation in Health Economics commenced with the first enrollment of 20 students from both the private and the public sectors. A positive discrimination policy was applied with 70 percent candidates selected from provinces; as the result of which, graduates from the first few years of this programme have formed the basis of network of expertise in the public health sector of Thailand. With some support from TDR and WHO, the Centre for Health Economics is now embarked on an expanded programme of research, education and services, with the commencement of an International Programme In Health Economics in 1993. Along with the MSc programme, the Centre also offers short courses in Health Economics. In 1993 the Centre was designated as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Economics and became a partner with institutions in Sri Lanka and Myanmar in a special TDR linkage-grant to develop international partnerships in research training. Bilateral linkages have been established with a number of other countries. Staff of the Centre are extensively involved in national and international consultations. The Centre for Health Economics has therefore become a specialised centre within the Faculty of Economics, Chulalongkorn University. It grew out of the positive development in health economics in the Faculty since 1979. The Centre was formally established in 1990 with an initial support from WHO/TDR and the British Council.
