Course content
The overall objective of this course is to provide students with an introductory knowledge of health systems and population health challenges as a background for introduction of innovations in structures, processes and technology.
Introduction to health systems
1) Introduction to health economics and concepts of market failure. – Understand the concept of third party payer and the necessity of public involvement in regulation of health care
2) Presentations of ideal typical models for health system organization: - Voluntary insurance (regulated market), public insurance (SHI) and public integrated (NHI). – Discussion of pros and cons in light of values and objectives of health systems (equity, quality, efficiency, responsiveness, choice etc.)
3) Presentation of recent reforms and innovations based on ongoing research projects: Centralization/decentralization, public-private mix/quasi markets/choice and contracting, integrated care innovations, performance measurement and management
4) Group based student projects presenting governance innovation topic. Identifying a problem, suggesting an innovative policy solution and discussing the implications in light of core values/objectives of health systems.
In this course students are
- Introduced to basic health economic concepts of market failure, third party payer and arguments for public involvement in health systems
- Introduced to frameworks for comparative analysis of health systems
- Using frameworks to understand institutions, regulations, business environment etc in different health systems
- Introduced to challenges and organizational/governance innovations to address challenges based on current research projects (see above)
See the full course description in the course catalogue