Introduction to Health Economics
2 hours
This session introduces students to:
- Economic concepts and their relevance to decisions around the allocation of health care resources.
- The application of economic tools to health care systems and public health in low- and middle-income countries.
- The central issues in health economics and health policy involved in the management of primary health care
- Topics such as methods of economic evaluation, setting priorities using health economics, and the interface between health economics and health policy.
Outcomes
By the end of the session, students can:
- Explain the key concepts, principles and theories of economics within the context of the health system with a focus on low- and middle-income countries.
- Analyse a health system in a low and middle-income setting from an economic perspective.
- Describe the complexities involved in providing equitable health care in low- and middle-income countries.
- Assess the most cost-effective health intervention program/ technology based on methods/approaches and principles of economic evaluation of the health care.
- Explain the roles and limitations of markets and incentives in health system.
Preparation
As facilitator
Share links to resources before the session.
Develop or source a presentation on study designs, methods, and evaluation approaches in health economics.
Develop or source a presentation on the economic evaluation of the health care.
Develop quizzes based on the reading and presentation.
Students
Read at least the first three resources before the session.
Reading
- Kernick, D.P. (2003). Introduction to health economics for the medical practitioner. Postgraduate Medical Journal; 79:147-150.
- Martin, I.M. (2001). Introduction to health economics for physicians. The Lancet; 358 (9286): 993-998.
- Medicine Journal; 19:198-201.
Additional reading
- Folland, S., Goodman, A.C., Stano, M. (2010). The Economics of Health and Health Care (7th Edition)
- Drummond, M.F., Sculper, M.J., Torrance, G.W., O’Brien, B.J., Stoddart, G.L. (2007). Methods for Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes (3rd edition). Oxford University Press.
- Folland, S., Goodman, A. and Stano, M. (2016). The Economics of Health and Health Care. Pearson International Edition Seventh Edition. Routledge. ISBN-10: 1292020512 or ISBN-13: 978-1292020518
- Witter, S., Ensor, T., Jowett, M. and Thompson, R. (2015). Health Economics for Developing Countries: A Practical Guide. KIT Publishers. ISBN-13: 978-9460221316 ISBN-10: 9460221319
- Dayo Obure, C., D.O., Jacobs, R., Guiness, L., Mayhew, S., Integra Initiative, Voss, A., (2016). Does Integration of HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Improve Technical Efficiency in Kenya and Swaziland? An Application of a Two-Stage Semi Parametric Approach Incorporating Quality Measures. Soc Sci Med. 151: 147–156. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.01.013
Assessment
- Quizzes, online or in person: 20%
- Practical assignment after the session: 70%
- Participation in discussion: 10%
Steps
| Time | Step | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 1. Present and discuss an overview of health economics | Facilitator, students |
| 30 minutes | 2. Present and discuss economic evaluation | Facilitator, students |
| 60 minutes | 3. Evaluate a healthcare case | Plenary, pairs |
| Afterwards | 4. Submit an assignment | Students |
Step 1. Present and discuss an overview of health economics
30 minutes
Present a PowerPoint overview of study designs, methods, and evaluation approaches in health economics. Engage students in discussing how they relate these to their prior knowledge of research designs and methods.
Step 2. Present and discuss economic evaluation
30 minutes
Develop students’ understanding of the economic evaluation of health care. Use a PowerPoint slide deck and participatory methods to involve the group in the discussion.
Step 3. Evaluate a healthcare case
60 minutes
With your support, students identify real or hypothetical healthcare cases that require an economic evaluation. In pairs, they discuss what methods and principles of economic evaluation they would apply to assess the most cost-effective health program or technology related to the case/s they identified.
Step 4. Submit an assignment
After the session
Each student searches for economic evaluations of health programs related to the topics covered in the session. They write up a (brief) critical review of these evaluations and submit it to you or another facilitator for assessment and feedback.
Session 2. A Heading with Caps | 6 hours
Each doctoral student develops and revises their PhD research question (quantitative or qualitative). To support this process, they review and apply the PICOT and SPIDER frameworks.
Preparation
As the facilitator
Read the resource articles:
- Bulleted list
- etc
Watch the YouTube videos and select which ones to screen:
- Bulleted list
- etc
With reference to these resources, develop PowerPoint presentations for Steps 2 and 5.
Test all physical equipment and/or web-based platforms.
Outcomes
By the end of these steps, students can:
- Bulleted list
Self-assessment
Each student:
- Does this
- That
Steps
| Time | Step | Who |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | 1. Present and discuss an overview of health economics | Facilitator, students |
| 30 minutes | 2. Present and discuss economic evaluation | Facilitator, students |
| 60 minutes | 3. Evaluate a healthcare case | Plenary, pairs |
| Afterwards | 4. Submit an assignment | Students |
Step 1. Present and discuss an overview of health economics
30 minutes
Present a PowerPoint overview of study designs, methods, and evaluation approaches in health economics. Engage students in discussing how they relate these to their prior knowledge of research designs and methods.
Step 2. Present and discuss economic evaluation
30 minutes
Develop students’ understanding of the economic evaluation of health care. Use a PowerPoint slide deck and participatory methods to involve the group in the discussion.
Step 3. Evaluate a healthcare case
60 minutes
With your support, students identify real or hypothetical healthcare cases that require an economic evaluation. In pairs, they discuss what methods and principles of economic evaluation they would apply to assess the most cost-effective health program or technology related to the case/s they identified.
Step 4. Submit an assignment
After the session
Each student searches for economic evaluations of health programs related to the topics covered in the session. They write up a (brief) critical review of these evaluations and submit it to you or another facilitator for assessment and feedback.
