Introduction to Health Economics
Course Code: PHUHECO24a

Welcome to Health Economics!

This module addresses public policies and best practices in areas such as development, demography, epidemiology, household finance and behavior, cost/effectiveness of treatments, financing modes, health system organization, and comparative country studies. By the end of this course, students will be able to understand how healthcare is organized and financed, how healthcare consumers make choices, how different treatments and services can be evaluated and prioritized, and how health systems can best cope with challenges.

The course is structured into five 2-week-long topics (Topics 1 to 5). For each topic, we will direct you to the reading resources that have been prepared to help meet the course competencies. You will read those resources, reflect on them, and complete the corresponding activities (e.g., peer activities, discussion forums) for each 2-week topic. 

You will also find quizzes at the end of each topic to allow you to self-assess your learning (completion of all quizzes is required to be eligible to submit the final assignment). It is essential that you read all required resources and participate in all activities to achieve the competencies outlined. At the end of the course, you will be required to complete a final assignment to test the knowledge and skills you have accumulated throughout the course.

There are five topics to complete, which include:

• An Introduction to Health Economics
• Health and Socio-Economic Development
• Healthcare Financing
• Introduction to Economic Evaluation
• Health System Efficiency and National Health Priorities 
  
  

This course is equivalent to 3 US credit hours. Participants must read all materials and complete all activities to meet all the academic requirements. The learning outcomes are intended to direct your course of study, and we encourage you to review them carefully.

We hope that you will enjoy studying this module!

Course Timetable