Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this module, students should be able to:
• Acquire insights into structure of health care systems in industrially advanced economies;
• Develop a systematic understanding of the major economic, political and sociological issues involved in the organisation, production and financing of health care services, both nationally and internationally;
• Foster a critical awareness of key debates in policy reforms, including the role of government and other actors through comparative study of different health care systems; and
• Analyse the roles of professionals, users and researchers in the making, implementation and evaluation of health policy through the use of case studies.
Indicative Module Content:
Through comparative study of different healthcare systems, this course seeks to develop a critical awareness of the key debates in policy reforms, e.g. the role of government and other actors such as the private sector, healthcare professionals and users. Highlighting factors which bring about convergence and divergence across countries, the comparability of different healthcare systems will also be examined.
Themes covered in the course include the historical foundations of different healthcare systems; similarities and differences in the way healthcare is financed, provided and regulated; contemporary debates on healthcare reforms such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, financial sustainability, erosion of universal access, quality improvement, patient safety, the globalisation of the care workforce and the digitalisation of care.
The health policy making process; organising a health system; financing healthcare; a professional organisation; the state and the health system; health systems reform; public – private relations; health and society; technology and care systems/policy; evaluation.