Session: Two
Prerequisites: A university level introductory course in economics
Dr Joan Costa-i-Font
Professor Alistair McGuire
Dr Caroline Rudisill
Understanding health policy, management and economics is important because:
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Health reform is at the forefront of the public policy agenda in most countries.
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The understanding of the challenges associated with population ageing and the impact of globalisation on health are today essential for global management and policy making.
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Innovation in the health sector is more important than elsewhere and calls for adequate reimbursement systems that are financially sustainable.
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Some information asymmetries and country specific insurance arrangements are unique to the management of health care organisations.
This course aims at providing the basic concepts and background to study decision making and resource allocation in health care, along with the specific issues and health system constraints and challenges to health care reform.
The course is organised in three sections. The first part covers the key concepts and features that define the market for health care, the evaluation of health interventions. A second section will be devoted to describe key reforms in different health systems in Europe, the US and in developing countries. Finally, three final lectures will discuss timely issues, namely ageing, innovation and incentives for health behaviour.
Texts
The Economics of Health and Health Care, Sherman Folland, Allen C. Goodman, and Miron Stano, 5th Edition, Pearson Education, (2008).
The Economics of New Health Technologies: Incentives, organisation and financing, Costa-i-Font, Joan, Courbage, Christophe and McGuire, Alistair, (eds.), Oxford University Press, (2009).
Lectures: 36 hours Classes: 12 hours
Assessment: One assessed essay and an unseen written examination