Type of course

Admission requirements

The course can be taken as a singular course by applicants who meet the academic admission criteria for the Master's program in Public Health.

Application code: 9371

Course content

Objectives of the course

Knowledge and Understanding

• Understand the economic principles underlying health care systems, including market dynamics, supply and demand for health, and market failures.
• Explain the rationale for and against government intervention in health care systems, including regulatory and policy mechanisms.
• Comprehend the economic factors influencing the market for health insurance, including adverse selection and moral hazard.
• Identify and analyze various health care payment systems, such as fee-for-service, capitation, bundled payments, and pay-for-performance.
• Understand funding mechanisms for health systems and their implications on equity, efficiency, and sustainability.
• Explain the principles of regulating and paying for pharmaceuticals, hospital services, and physicians.
• Reflect on the role of economics in health policy and the intersection between health economics and public health.
• Understand international perspectives on health system regulation and funding, including comparisons across countries.
• Identify reliable economic literature and data sources in health economics.
• Be aware of ethical and equity concerns in economic decision-making within health care.

• Understand legal system, priority setting and health promotion in different health systems.

Skills

• Apply basic economic theories to analyze health care markets and policy interventions.
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of various health payment systems in different health care contexts.
• Conduct comparative analyses of health care funding models across different countries or regions.
• Use economic principles to critically assess health insurance mechanisms and their effects on access and affordability.
• Interpret data on health care utilization, costs, and outcomes to inform policy decisions.
• Reflect on the economic implications of regulations and policies in specific health care sectors, such as pharmaceuticals and hospital services.
• Search for and critically appraise research-based literature in health economics.
• Assess ethical considerations in health policy, including trade-offs between efficiency, equity, and sustainability.

General Competences

• Act in accordance with ethical standards in health economics, promoting professional accountability and social responsibility.
• Communicate health economic concepts clearly and effectively through oral presentations and academic written work.
• Develop evidence-based arguments for or against specific health care policies and funding models.
• Critically evaluate health care interventions, policies, and payment models based on economic principles.
• Work collaboratively to address multidisciplinary challenges in health economics and policy.
• Demonstrate awareness of cultural, social, and economic determinants of health and their relevance to policy decisions.
• Reflect on global and regional trends in health economics and adapt knowledge to diverse health care settings.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

Information to incoming exchange students

This course is open to incoming exchange students.

Study Level: Master's

Prerequisites:
To be eligible for this course, you must have:

• A completed bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS).
• At least 80 ECTS in relevant subjects, such as: health sciences, nutrition, sport science, veterinary science, social sciences, statistics, mathematics, computer science, biology, developmental studies, economics, healthcare management, and medical technology.

For details on how to apply for exchange, course selection guidelines, or to contact the Incoming Admissions Team, please visit: Admissions for Student Exchange.

Recommended reading/syllabus