GENEVA — May 22, 2026
Executive Summary
FINN Partners and WifOR Institute have launched “From Cost to Catalyst,” a global initiative designed to help governments, health organizations, and life sciences leaders quantify and communicate the economic value of health investment. Announced during the 79th World Health Assembly, the initiative combines health economics expertise, economic impact modeling, and strategic communications capabilities to reposition health spending as a driver of productivity, workforce resilience, economic sustainability, and long-term growth rather than a budgetary burden.
Announcement Overview
The new “From Cost to Catalyst” initiative brings together WifOR Institute’s capabilities in health economics, labor market analytics, and social impact measurement with FINN Partners’ expertise in global health communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement. The collaboration is intended to equip policymakers, finance ministries, healthcare organizations, and industry leaders with evidence-based tools and communication strategies that support investment-focused health policy discussions. The initiative was formally introduced on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly attended by policymakers, health executives, multilateral organizations, and industry stakeholders from multiple global regions.
Key Announcement Details
- Announcement Type: Global health policy and economic investment initiative launch
- Initiative Name: From Cost to Catalyst
- Organizations Involved: FINN Partners and WifOR Institute
- Announcement Date: May 22, 2026
- Launch Event: 79th World Health Assembly
- Launch Location: Geneva
- Primary Objective: Reposition health spending as an economic investment rather than a budgetary cost
- Core Focus Areas: Workforce resilience, productivity, innovation, economic sustainability, health investment policy
- Target Stakeholders: Governments, ministries of health, finance leaders, policymakers, life sciences companies, healthcare organizations
- WifOR Institute Expertise Areas: Health economics, labor market analytics, social impact measurement, macroeconomic impact analysis
- FINN Partners Expertise Areas: Life sciences communications, public affairs, patient advocacy communications, executive communications, stakeholder engagement
- Primary Services Offered: Economic impact modeling, scenario planning, policy platform development, stakeholder engagement recommendations, executive communications support
- Economic Modeling Focus: Measuring health’s contribution to workforce participation and economic growth
- Policy Support Focus: Translating economic evidence into policy influence and investment decisions
- Strategic Narrative Objective: Shift health spending discussions from expenditure management to long-term economic value creation
- Policy Focus Regions Mentioned: Europe and broader international markets
- Referenced Economic Priorities: Prevention, workforce resilience, productivity, long-term economic growth
- Referenced Institutions: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
- Referenced Policy Trends: EU health technology assessment reforms and fiscal integration of health policy
- Global Audience Introduced To: Policymakers, multilateral organizations, healthcare executives, industry leaders across Europe, North America, Asia, and emerging markets
- Key Strategic Gap Identified: Disconnect between economic health evidence and budget decision-making processes
- Communications Objective: Translate technical economic evidence into persuasive public policy and investment narratives
- FINN Partners Founded: 2011
- FINN Partners Global Presence: More than 1,300 professionals across 35 offices
- WifOR Institute Positioning: Independent economic research institute specializing in health economics and impact measurement
From Cost to Catalyst Unveiled at the World Health Assembly
FINN Partners and WifOR Institute announced the launch of “From Cost to Catalyst” during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva.
According to the organizations, the initiative was created to address longstanding policy and economic narratives that frame health spending primarily as a public expenditure rather than a long-term economic investment.
The organizations stated that governments globally are confronting multiple structural challenges, including:
- Aging populations
- Workforce shortages
- Rising chronic disease burdens
- Health inequities
- Long-term productivity pressures
- Economic sustainability concerns
The initiative is intended to support governments, policymakers, and industry stakeholders with evidence-based frameworks that position health investment as a contributor to broader economic resilience and workforce participation.
From Cost to Catalyst Is Based in Evidence
According to the announcement, the initiative combines the respective strengths of both organizations.
WifOR Institute contributes expertise in:
- Health economics
- Labor market analytics
- Social impact measurement
- Macroeconomic impact analysis
- Economic research
FINN Partners contributes capabilities in:
- Life sciences communications
- Health provider communications
- Patient advocacy communications
- Public affairs
- Strategic stakeholder engagement
- Executive communications
The organizations stated that the partnership is designed to provide decision-makers with both measurable economic evidence and strategic communications support necessary to influence policy and investment discussions.
The initiative aims to help reframe health spending as:
- A driver of workforce resilience
- A contributor to economic productivity
- A long-term sustainability mechanism
- An innovation enabler
- A strategic economic investment
Company Commentary
Mark Chataway, Managing Partner at FINN Partners, commented on the economic implications of underinvestment in healthcare systems.
“Governments are cheating themselves and their people by short-changing health spending today and creating a poorer, less secure future.”
Marc-Simon Schneider, Chief Executive Officer of WifOR Institute, said the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between economic evidence and actionable policymaking.
“Governments and industries worldwide are confronting increasingly complex fiscal decisions.”
“Our research consistently shows that investing in health generates measurable returns across productivity, workforce participation, and societal stability. Yet too often, that evidence remains confined to technical reports. This collaboration ensures that decision-makers receive both the data and the strategic context needed to act.”
The organizations stated that the collaboration combines economic analysis with communications strategy to strengthen how health investment discussions are positioned within policy and fiscal decision-making environments.
From Cost to Catalyst Is Designed to Change Policy
According to the announcement, the initiative will provide governments, healthcare organizations, and industry stakeholders with several integrated service capabilities.
Services available through the initiative include:
- Economic impact modeling
- Quantifying health’s contribution to workforce participation and economic growth
- Scenario planning
- Supporting public and private investment decision-making processes
- Policy platforms and stakeholder engagement recommendations
- Translating economic evidence into policy influence strategies
- Executive communications support
- Assisting leaders in shaping funding, market, and policy conversations
The organizations stated that these capabilities are intended to support evidence-driven discussions surrounding healthcare investment priorities and broader economic planning initiatives.
Global Introduction During the World Health Assembly
The initiative was formally introduced on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly.
According to the announcement, attendees included:
- Senior policymakers
- Multilateral organizations
- Healthcare executives
- Industry leaders
- European stakeholders
- North American representatives
- Asian market participants
- Emerging market organizations
The organizations stated that the initiative was introduced at a time when governments and policymakers are increasingly evaluating long-term economic sustainability and workforce resilience strategies.
Why Now? Closing the Gap on Economic Evidence & Policy
According to FINN Partners and WifOR Institute, the timing of the initiative reflects growing momentum surrounding the role of health investment within broader economic policy frameworks.
The organizations stated that several developments are contributing to this shift, including:
- European policy discussions surrounding healthcare investment
- Economic sustainability planning initiatives
- Prevention-focused policy strategies
- Workforce resilience priorities
- Health technology assessment reforms across the European Union
- Fiscal planning integration efforts in countries including France
- OECD focus on productivity and workforce participation
The organizations stated that the broader economic case for health investment already exists but remains disconnected from many budget and treasury decision-making processes.
According to the announcement, the challenge is not the absence of economic evidence but rather the absence of effective execution and strategic communication capable of influencing fiscal and political priorities.
The initiative was created to help close that gap through integrated economic analysis and policy-focused communications support.
Additional Partner Commentary
Dr Sandra Zimmerman of WifOR Institute commented on the relationship between fiscal policy decisions and perceptions surrounding healthcare spending.
“When a finance minister sees health as a cost, they cut it. When they see it as an investment, they protect it.”
“That single shift is worth billions — and it depends entirely on whether the evidence is there and whether anyone has made the case well. For too long, no one has. That is what we are here to change.”
Christopher Nial, Senior Partner, Global Health Impact at FINN Partners, said the collaboration seeks to strengthen how healthcare investment narratives are communicated to policymakers and economic decision-makers.
“The data has been on health’s side for years. The storytelling hasn’t.”
“Pair WifOR’s rigour with the way we build and run campaigns, and suddenly the economic case for health is not just defensible — it is unmissable, from the floor of the World Health Assembly to the rooms where budgets are actually decided.”
The organizations stated that combining economic evidence with strategic communications execution is intended to support stronger engagement with governments, ministries, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
About FINN Partners
FINN Partners is an independent global marketing and communications agency founded in 2011.
According to the company, FINN Partners has expanded from approximately $24 million in fees to nearly $200 million in fees over the past 14 years.
The company has been recognized by:
- Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies
- PRovoke Media’s 2024 Best Agency to Work For
- PRovoke Media’s 2022 Agency of the Year
FINN Partners operates with more than:
- 1,300 professionals
- 35 global offices
- Operations across the Americas, Europe, and Asia
The company provides communications and strategic marketing services across multiple sectors, including healthcare, life sciences, public affairs, and corporate communications.
About WifOR Institute
WifOR Institute is an independent economic research institute specializing in:
- Health economics
- Labor economics
- Impact measurement
- Macroeconomic analysis
The organization produces economic impact analysis for:
- Governments
- International organizations
- Private sector organizations
- Global policy stakeholders
According to the institute, its work focuses on measuring the broader economic and societal impact of policy and investment decisions.
Media Contact
For additional information, visit finnpartners.com.
Source Attribution
Source: Company announcement
