Centre for the Business and Economics of Health

Dr Ruvini Hettiarachchi

Research Fellow
Centre for the Business and Economics of Health
+61 7 3346 1154
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Dr Ruvini Hettiarachchi

I’m a Research Fellow at The University of Queensland’s Centre for the Business and Economics of Health (CBEH). My research expertise mainly focuses on applied health economics and health services research. I’m passionate about identifying healthcare interventions that provide the best value for money and cooperate with consumer preferences for the healthcare decision-making process. I believe consumers and healthcare providers play an important role in designing healthcare interventions more suited to their needs. Part of my research is based on choice modelling, where I can quantify consumers' preferences for different attributes of healthcare services and incorporate them into decision-making processes. I am a member of the health technology assessment team at CBEH that evaluates submissions made to the Australian Government to reimburse new medicines and medical devices through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

My research covers different areas of health including oral health, mental health, cardiovascular diseases, occupational violence prevention, consumer preferences for cancer follow-up care and emergency services. I collaborate with researchers, clinical experts, qualitative experts, online survey companies and healthcare institutions to evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare interventions in both hospital and community settings.

Research interests

Health economics: identifying health care interventions with the best value for money and measuring the effectiveness of existing and new health interventions.

Consumer preferences and choice modelling: applying choice modelling to understand consumer preferences over different health care characteristics and incorporating choice modelling analysis to design health care based on consumer preferences.

Patient reported outcome measures and health state valuations: development of preference-based measures and utility algorithms to facilitate the outcomes measured in health economic evaluations.

Research impact and partnerships

I developed the first oral health preference-based measure and the utility algorithm. This instrument and the utility algorithm facilitate economic evaluations of oral health interventions targeted at children and adolescents. Currently, I am working with a Swedish research team undertaking a project to translate and validate the oral health preference-based instrument and inform the development of tariffs. I have prepared evaluation reports for the Medical Services Advisory Committee for a range of medical services including interventional and diagnostic procedures, which has directly influenced policy and practice.

I collaborate with The University of Queensland School of Dentistry and Metro South Hospital and Health Service oral health services on research projects to improve oral health of the vulnerable populations including children and elderly adults living in residential aged care facilities.

Contact

To find out how we can collaborate and bring value to your organisation, I can be contacted via:
 Email - r.hettiarachchi@uq.edu.au
Connect with Ruvini on LinkedIn

Publications

Journal Articles (20)
Conference Papers (2)
Thesis (1)
Research Reports (11)

Journal Articles

Senanayake, Sameera, Duff, Jed, Jeffries, Lita, Griffiths, Joanna, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini, Sharma, Pakhi and Kularatna, Sanjeewa (2025). Preferences of healthcare workers for security personnel to prevent occupational violence: a discrete choice experiment. Work: A Journal of Prevention, Assessment and Rehabilitation. doi: 10.1177/10519815251330539
Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., McClurg, Alicia, Wallis, Shannon, Neill, Johanne, Tomlinson, Rebecca and Carter, Hannah E. (2025). Heart Health Hub virtual care program for newly diagnosed heart failure patients. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. doi: 10.1177/1357633x251318905
Chaminda, Jayasekara Liyana Patabendige, Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Dharmagunawardene, Dilantha, Hinchcliff, Reece, Rohde, Alexia, Brain, David, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini Manjula, Weerasuriya, Sucharitha Rangi, Yapa, Sunil Senarath and Senanayake, Sameera (2024). Health system interventions for the cost containment of drugs used for cardiovascular diseases: a systematic review and exploration of how the results could be adapted to the Sri Lankan context. Global Health Journal, 8 (4), 181-189. doi: 10.1016/j.glohj.2024.11.005
Yaparathna, Navodika, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini Manjula, Love, Robert, Robb, Nigel D. and Abuzar, Menaka (2024). Impact of removable partial dentures on masticatory performance in partial edentulism: a systematic review. International Journal of Prosthodontics, 37 (3), 327-338. doi: 10.11607/ijp.8278
Senanayake, Sameera, Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Crawford-Williams, Fiona, Brain, David, Allen, Michelle, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., Hart, Nicolas H., Koczwara, Bogda, Ee, Carolyn and Chan, Raymond J. (2024). Cancer survivor preferences for breast cancer follow-up care: a discrete choice experiment. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 1-8. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01629-9
Weerasuriya, Sucharitha R., Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Rohde, Alexia, Arrow, Peter, Jamieson, Lisa, Tonmukayakul, Utsana and Senanayake, Sameera (2023). Comparison of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS‐4D) and Child Health Utility Index (CHU‐9D) in children with oral diseases. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 52 (2), 224-231. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12917
Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Byrnes, Joshua, Mulhern, Brendan, Chen, Gang and Scuffham, Paul A. (2023). Valuing the Dental Caries Utility Index in Australia. Medical Decision Making, 43 (7-8) 0272989X231197149, 901-913. doi: 10.1177/0272989x231197149
Allen, Michelle J, Doran, Rachael, Brain, David, Powell, Elizabeth E, O’Beirne, James, Valery, Patricia C, Barnett, Adrian, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini, Hickman, Ingrid J and Kularatna, Sanjeewa (2023). A discrete choice experiment to elicit preferences for a liver screening programme in Queensland, Australia: a mixed methods study to select attributes and levels. BMC Health Services Research, 23 (1) 950, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09934-2
Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Allen, Michelle, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., Crawford-Williams, Fiona, Senanayake, Sameera, Brain, David, Hart, Nicolas H., Koczwara, Bogda, Ee, Carolyn and Chan, Raymond J. (2023). Cancer survivor preferences for models of breast cancer follow-up care: selecting attributes for inclusion in a discrete choice experiment. Patient, 16 (4), 371-383. doi: 10.1007/s40271-023-00631-0
Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Chen, Gang, Norman, Richard, Mukuria, Clara, Rowen, Donna, Senanayake, Sameera, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini, Mulhern, Brendan, Fozzard, Katie, Parsonage, William and MacPhail, Steven M. (2023). Developing an Australian utility value set for MacNew-7D health states. Quality of Life Research, 32 (4), 1151-1163. doi: 10.1007/s11136-022-03325-6
Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., Arrow, Peter, Senanayake, Sameera, Carter, Hannah, Brain, David, Norman, Richard, Tonmukayawul, Utsana, Jamieson, Lisa and Kularatna, Sanjeewa (2022). Developing an Australian utility value set for the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale-4D (ECOHIS-4D) using a discrete choice experiment. European Journal of Health Economics, 24 (8), 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s10198-022-01542-x
Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Byrnes, Joshua, Chen, Gang, Mulhern, Brendan and Scuffham, Paul A. (2022). Development of a classification (descriptive) system for a preference-based quality of life measure for dental caries (dental caries utility index) among adolescents. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 82 (3), 253-261. doi: 10.1111/jphd.12490
Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini, Senanayake, Sameera, Murphy, Ciara, Donovan, Caroline and March, Sonja (2022). Cost-effectiveness analysis of paediatric mental health interventions: a systematic review of model-based economic evaluations. BMC Health Services Research, 22 (1) 542, 1-17. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-07939-x
Hettiarachchi, Ruvini, Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Byrnes, Joshua, Mulhern, Brendan, Chen, Gang and Scuffham, Paul A (2020). Valuation study for a preference-based quality of life measure for dental caries (Dental Caries Utility Index - DCUI) among Australian adolescents - study protocol. BMJ Open, 10 (10) e038626, e038626. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-038626
Amilani, Uttara, Carter, Hannah E., Senanayake, Sameera, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., McPhail, Steven M. and Kularatna, Sanjeewa (2020). A scoping review of cost‐effectiveness analyses of school‐based interventions for caries. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 48 (5), 357-363. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12553
Bull, Claudia, Byrnes, Joshua, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini and Downes, Martin (2019). A systematic review of the validity and reliability of patient-reported experience measures. Health Services Research, 54 (5), 1023-1035. doi: 10.1111/1475-6773.13187
Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Byrnes, Joshua and Scuffham, Paul A. (2019). Pediatric quality of life instruments in oral health research: a systematic review. Value in Health, 22 (1), 129-135. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2018.06.019
Hettiarachchi, Pilana Vithanage Kalani Shihanika, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini Manjula, Jayasinghe, Ruwan Duminda and Sitheeque, Mohaideen (2017). Comparison of topical tacrolimus and clobetasol in the management of symptomatic oral lichen planus: a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial in Sri Lanka. Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry, 8 (4), 1-6. doi: 10.1111/jicd.12237
Hettiarachchi, Ruvini M., Kularatna, Sanjeewa , Downes, Martin J., Byrnes, Joshua, Kroon, Jeroen, Lalloo, Ratilal, Johnson, Newell W. and Scuffham, Paul A. (2017). The cost-effectiveness of oral health interventions: a systematic review of cost-utility analyses. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 46 (2), 118-124. doi: 10.1111/cdoe.12336
Jayasinghe, R.D., Manoja, K.G.D., Gunasinghe, M.S., Gurusinghe, S.K.B., Sitheeque, M.A.M., Hettiarachchi, R.M. and Kularathne, M.S.M. (2016). An analysis of rate and factors affecting malignant transformation of oral submucous fibrosis in patients attending the Oral Medicine Clinic, Dental Hospital Peradeniya, Sri Lanka - A retrospective study. Sri Lanka Journal of Medicine, 24 (2), 3-10. doi: 10.4038/sljm.v24i2.8

Conference Papers

Hettiarachchi, Ruvini, McClurg, Alicia, Wallis, Shannon, Neill, Johanne, Tomlinson, Rebecca and Carter, Hannah E. (2023). Heart Health Hub virtual care pilot program for heart failure patients, Queensland, Australia; A cost consequence study. 44th Annual AHES Conference, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 21-22 September 2023.
Kularatna, S., Chen, G., Senanayake, S., Hettiarachchi, R., Parsonage, W., Norman, R., Mulhern, B., Mukuria, C., Rowen, D. and McPhail, S. (2022). Australian health utility value set for MacNew-7D heart disease-specific measure. 70th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 11-14 August 2022. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.06.063

Thesis

Hettiarachchi, R. M. (2007). Dental caries experience in 3-5 year old children and oral health knowledge and practices of their parents in Nugegoda MOH area. Master's Thesis, Community Dentistry, Post Graduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Research Reports

Yeoh, S., Hettiarachchi, R. and Tuffaha, H. (2024). MSAC Application No. 1749.1 - Insertion of durable ventricular assist device (VAD) for use as destination therapy: Applicant Developed Assessment Report (ADAR). Canberra, ACT Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Yeoh, S., Hettiarachchi, R. and Tuffaha, H. (2024). MSAC Application No. 1783 - Genetic testing to detect PIK3CA mutations in patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER-2 negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, to determine eligibility for treatment with PBS subsidised inavolisib: PICO Confirmation. Canberra, ACT Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Hettiarachchi, Ruvini and Tuffaha, Haitham (2024). MSAC Application No. 1593.1 - Bioinductive implant for the repair of rotator cuff tear: Applicant Developed Assessment Report (ADAR): Commonwealth of Australia. Canberra, ACT Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Yeoh, S., Hettiarachchi, R. and Tuffaha, H. (2024). MSAC Application No. 1766 – Genetic testing to detect AKT-pathway alterations in patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer, to determine eligibility for PBS subsidised capivasertib treatment: PICO Confirmation. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Edmunds, K., Hettiarachchi, R., Teppala, S., Shiksha, A., Madeline, O. and Tuffaha, H. (2023). (November 2023), MSAC Application No. 1713 – Cardiac MRI in the diagnosis of myocarditis, Department Contracted Assessment Report (DCAR). Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, ACT.. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Hettiarachchi, R. and Tuffaha, H. (2023). (August 2023), MSAC Application No. 1734 - Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) for the treatment of moderately or severely calcified peripheral artery disease, Applicant Developed Assessment Report (ADAR). Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, ACT.. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Hettiarachchi, R. and Tuffaha, H. (2023). (August 2023), MSAC Application No. 1749 - Insertion of durable ventricular assist device (VAD) for use as destination therapy, Applicant Developed Assessment Report (ADAR). Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, ACT.. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Hettiarachchi, R. and Tuffaha, H. (2023). (August 2023), MSAC Application No. 1749 - Insertion of durable ventricular assist device (VAD) for use as destination therapy, PICO Confirmation. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, ACT.. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Hettiarachchi, R. and Tuffaha, H. (2023). (April 2023), MSAC Application No. 1734 - Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) for the treatment of moderately or severely calcified peripheral artery disease, PICO Confirmation. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, ACT. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia.
Duff, Jed, Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Brain, David,, Tyack, Zephanie, Senanayake, Sameera Jayan, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini, Olsson, Lita and Griffiths, Jo (2022). ‘Surgical Ambassador’ Occupational Violence Prevention Program; Economic Evaluation and eliciting health care staff preferences for Occupational Violence Prevention Program. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: Queensland University of Technology. doi: 10.5204/rep.eprints.248024
Toloo, Sam, Hettiarachchi, Ruvini, Lim, David and Wilson, Katie (2022). Reducing Emergency Department demand through expanded primary healthcare practice: Full report of the research and findings. Queensland University of Technology. doi: 10.5204/rep.eprints.227473