Darshini Govindasamy CV- Click Here!
I bring over a decade of experience in health economics and health systems research in South Africa, with a strong focus on equity-driven solutions for vulnerable populations. My work addresses priority health challenges in the Global South- HIV treatment and prevention, mental health, and gender-based violence. I hold a Masters in Public Health (University of Cape Town, South Africa) and a PhD in Health Economics (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine). As the new Director of PRICELESS SA, a key centre for health economics and decision science in South Africa, honorary researcher at the South African Medical Research Council (Health Systems Research Unit, Health Systems | SAMRC), and advisor on National Department of Health Committees, I am deeply embedded in shaping national health financing and policy agendas.
My contributions reflect a commitment to social justice in health economics:
- Equity-focused economic evaluations: Leading economic evaluations alongside trials with lived experience experts
- Methodological innovation: Advancing approaches to value quality-of-life outcomes in low-resource settings by drawing on best practices from the Global South.
- Policy engagement: Advising as health economist on key health system reform committees in South Africa
- Capacity building: Supervising and mentoring Masters and PhD African students and securing grants to strengthen health economics training in South Africa and the region.
I have successfully led and co-led multiple international grants (Wellcome Trust, IDRC, EuroQol), published with key groups in my area (42 papers, H-index 20), and contributed to global guideline development (WHO TB and HIV). I have been an engaged IHEA member since 2019, through presentations and chairing of panels, participating in special interest group and mentorship programmes and attending virtual training and talks in my field. Overall, my work reflects a commitment to equity and inclusion, decolonising health economic methods, and ensuring that economic evidence informs policy decisions for underserved populations.
As an early-career African researcher from the Global South who has navigated systemic challenges, I understand the barriers to research funding, mentorship, and visibility. Moreover, from my lived experience, I understand the challenges that comes with managing unpaid caregiving whilst driving a research career as a woman scientist.
I will actively advocate for these issues through:
- Mentorship and training: I will drive the development of seed fund opportunities and exchange programmes between Global South institutions to accelerate cross-learnings and the career growth of Global South scholars from low-income settings.Â
- Representation in global forums: I will champion for equity and transformation on all IHEA panels and committees to amplify the perspectives of early career scholars from the Global South, especially those from marginalised groups.
- Collaborative networks: I will push for equitable partnerships between the North and South and ensure there is equitable knowledge exchange and there is tangible value gain for early careers researchers on these partnerships.Â
This combination of technical expertise, policy influence, lived experience, and commitment to capacity strengthening positions me to effectively represent health economists in my region and champion the voices of early-career researchers in the Global South.