Now launched – The Social Value Database and Simulator (SVDS) for Public Health

Now launched – The Social Value Database and Simulator (SVDS) for Public Health

Posted 14th July 2022

This blog was written by Public Health Wales in announcement of the new Social Value Database and Simulator (SVDS) for Public Health.

Over the past three years, we at the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health and Well-being (WHO CC) at Public Health Wales, have been working to develop a pioneering programme of work towards increasing value and impact. As part of a wider organisational and global drive, we have been looking to apply a Social Value approach towards building a ‘Value-Based Public Health’ and an Economy of Well-being in Wales and beyond.

In June 2022, we were pleased to announce the launch of our Social Value Database and Simulator (SVDS) for Public Health. This is an innovative tool for collation, storage and manipulation of health economics evidence, currently focusing on the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology and its application to public health. The SVDS for Public Health has two main functions:

1) Database: storing available and relevant SROI study data, which will be continuously updated and expanded over time

2) Simulator: to allow manipulation of the SROI study data to simulate SROI estimates, relevant to the national, local, organisational, and programme context and population. This is a service provided by the WHO CC to walk you through the process and support with interpretation as part of this function.

The tool has been informed by and developed in collaboration with experts in Social Value and SROI; researchers and health economists; and colleagues across Public Health Wales, the NHS and the Welsh Government. It provides essential information to help inform public health and wider decision-making, investment prioritisation and programme improvement in order to maximise value for money and support a more sustainable and resilient NHS and economy, placing population health and well-being at its heart.

Dr Mariana Dyakova, WHO CC Deputy Director and International Health Lead, Public Health Wales, said:

“The Social Value Database and Simulator for Public Health is the first of its kind to bring together and model the application of SROI to public health to enhance implementation of Social Value for building a Value-Based Public Health as part of Value-Based Health Care in Wales. We are also looking to explore and develop further the concept, methodology and real life application of Social Return on Investment to improve health and well-being, and reduce health inequity in Wales and beyond.”

The SVDS for public health is available here, and you can request access by emailing [email protected] to register and receive log in details (please make sure to check your junk folder).

Do you know of SROI evidence which could be added to the SVDS for Public Health?

We are always looking for SROI studies to be added to the database. If you aware of any work you would like us to add, email us at [email protected].

Posted 15th July 2022