The OHE was founded in 1962 to commission and undertake research on the economics of health and health care, collect and analyse health and health care data for the UK and other countries, and disseminate the results of its work and stimulate discussion of them and their policy implications. Its independent Research Committee and Policy Committee has helped maintain OHE’s international reputation for the quality and independence of its research.
OHE became an Independent Research Organisation in 2020.
The OHE’s current work programme is supported by research grants and consultancy revenues from a wide range of UK and international sources: the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) and other commercial clients, the Department of Health Policy Research Programme (PRP), the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), the Medical Research Council (MRC), the EuroQol Foundation and a number of charitable and other organisations.