Available in 2024
Course code

GSBS6380

Units

10 units

Level

6000 level

Course handbook

Description

Health economics is the application of economic principles to health and healthcare. Students apply core concepts of supply and demand theories to health and healthcare examples and learn about the importance of information (and information asymmetry) in health care markets; the critical role of insurance; hospital financing and delivery; and private/public mix in finance and provision of healthcare. In this course students are introduced to key conceptual frameworks of healthcare economics and decision making, and examine how Australian and international healthcare systems are designed and organised, including the critical components of long-term care and pharmaceutical markets.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Newcastle City Precinct

  • Semester 2 - 2024
  • Trimester 3 - 2024

Online

  • Semester 2 - 2024
  • Trimester 3 - 2024

Singapore NAIHE

  • Trimester 3 - 2024

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Understand the economic concepts relevant to health and healthcare.

2. Identify the key economic trade-offs involved in different healthcare allocation decisions and analyse the implications for payers, providers and consumers.

3. Critically examine the economic rationale associated with trends in health system development.

4. Critically evaluate the effects of a health policy or intervention.

5. Understand how health economics/policies can be used to address specific types of market failure.

6. Apply analytical skills to interpret, analyse and synthesise data from a variety of sources and communicate information effectively.


Content

The course includes the following topics:

  1. Essential microeconomics toolkit 
  2. Health economics and finance: what is special about health?
  3. Demand for health and healthcare
  4. Health capital demand and the demand for health
  5. Supply of health and healthcare
  6. Demand and supply for health insurance
  7. Regulated competition and social insurance
  8. Public and private mix: cross country comparison
  9. Health technology assessment and economic evaluation
  10. Beginners guide to budget impact analysis
  11. Value based healthcare and behavioural economics
  12. Introduction to healthcare expenditure modelling

Requisite

If you have successfully completed PUBH6250 you cannot enrol in this course.


Assessment items

Case Study / Problem Based Learning: Problem Based Learning Assignment

Report: Report Critique

Written Assignment: Policy Evaluation


Contact hours

Semester 2 - 2024 - Newcastle City Precinct

Online Activity-1
  • Self-Directed 6 hour(s) per term
  • For Face to face mode - 6 hrs of online content per term provided for self directed learning
Workshop-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s) starting in week 1

Semester 2 - 2024 - Online

Online Activity-1
  • Online 30 hour(s) per term

Trimester 3 - 2024 - Singapore NAIHE

Online Activity-1
  • Self-Directed 6 hour(s) per term
  • For Face to face mode - 6 hrs of online content per term provided for self directed learning
Workshop-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s) starting in week 1

Trimester 3 - 2024 - Newcastle City Precinct

Online Activity-1
  • Self-Directed 6 hour(s) per term
  • For Face to face mode - 6 hrs of online content per term provided for self directed learning
Workshop-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 2 hour(s) per week(s) for 12 week(s) starting in week 1

Trimester 3 - 2024 - Online

Online Activity-1
  • Online 30 hour(s) per term

Course outline

Course outline not yet available.