4.0

credits

Average Course Rating

A good health system delivers quality services to all people, when and where they need them. Components of a strong health system include a robust financing mechanism; a well-trained and adequately paid workforce; reliable information on which to base decisions and policies; and well-maintained facilities and logistics to deliver quality medicines and technologies. However, many countries in the developing world have weak health systems, badly in need of strengthening and reform. This course offers a practical introduction to major issues, policies and practices related to health systems and health policy in a developing country context. The course combines two perspectives. First, students will apply principles related to health systems strengthening and reform to develop a framework to strengthen and rebuild health systems in fragile states. Second, students will learn about and apply key insights from economics to understand health behaviors and health care markets, and to inform the design of health policy in low and middle-income countries. Students are expected to be comfortable reading articles that evaluate health system interventions as well as applied economics papers and think through the logic and implications of economic theory (without complicated statistics or math). Substantive preparation and class participation are expected. <a href="http://bit.ly/1bebp5s" target="_blank">Click here to see evaluations, syllabi, and faculty bios</a>