Unit Code: HSM605

Unit Name: Introduction to Health Economics

Description: This course begins with a broad introduction to Economics, starting with basic concepts. The course looks at concepts of resources and scarcity along with the theories of demand, supply and market formation, and economic systems. With a basic exposure to Economics, students will be focused on application of a set of selected theories, concepts and techniques of Economics to the institutions, actors and activities that affect health. The broad areas covered by the course are formation of markets for health care, methods of costing health care services, methods for the economic evaluation of health care programmes, financing health care services, reforming the health sector and capacity building in the process of reforming. For each and every lesson practical examples will be brought up and enriched the learning process.

Learning Target Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, the students will be able to: 1. Define the basic concepts of Economics and Health Economics 2. Explain the concepts of Efficiency in health production 3. Explain the concepts of Equity in health production 4. Outline the fundamentals of markets and in the context of health 5. Analyse the role of demand and supply in health systems 6. Differentiate Economic Evaluation methods in the health sector 7. Compare and contrast the resource mechanisms for health in Pacific Island countries

Prerequisite: Nil

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 15

Offered In: Semester 1