Unit Code : He/os/ch/cc/05/4/a
Unit Outlines

Unit Code : He/Os/Ch/Cc/05/4/A

AI Generated Intermediate 40 hours 9 topics

Learning Objectives

5 objectives
  • Understand fundamental economic principles as applied to healthcare systems and decision-making.
  • Analyze demand and supply dynamics within healthcare markets and their impact on service delivery.
  • Evaluate various healthcare financing models and the role of insurance in healthcare utilization.
  • Apply economic evaluation methods to assess healthcare interventions for cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Examine health policy, market failures, and the role of government and technology in shaping healthcare economics globally.

Content Outline

Preview

Unit 544: Health Economics

1. Introduction to Health Economics

  • Definition and scope of health economics
  • Basic economic principles applied to healthcare
    • Scarcity and choice
    • Opportunity cost
  • Resource allocation in healthcare systems
  • Role of economics in healthcare decision-making

2. Demand and Supply in Healthcare

  • Concept of demand in healthcare
    • Determinants of patient demand
    • Elasticity of demand in healthcare services
  • Concept of supply in healthcare
    • Factors influencing healthcare provider supply
    • Supply constraints and capacity
  • Market equilibrium in healthcare
    • Price mechanisms
    • Impact of market imperfections

3. Health Insurance and Healthcare Financing

  • Overview of health insurance models
    • Private insurance
    • Public insurance
    • Social health insurance
  • Role and importance of insurance in healthcare financing
  • Payment mechanisms
    • Fee-for-service
    • Capitation
    • Diagnosis-related groups (DRGs)
  • Impact of health insurance on healthcare utilization and outcomes

4. Economic Evaluation in Healthcare

  • Purpose and importance of economic evaluation
  • Types of economic analyses
    • Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA)
    • Cost-utility analysis (CUA)
    • Cost-benefit analysis (CBA)
  • Steps in conducting economic evaluations
  • Interpretation and application in healthcare decision-making

5. Healthcare Market Failures

  • Definition and examples of market failures in healthcare
  • Asymmetric information
    • Adverse selection
    • Moral hazard
  • Externalities in healthcare
  • Public goods and their characteristics
  • Implications of market failures on efficiency and equity

6. Health Policy and Regulation

  • Role of government in healthcare
  • Health policy development processes
  • Regulatory frameworks impacting healthcare markets
  • Public health policies and healthcare reforms
  • Evaluation of policy impacts on healthcare delivery and economics

7. Global Health Economics

  • Economic disparities in health across countries
  • Role of international organizations (WHO, World Bank, etc.) in health economics
  • Challenges in achieving global health equity
  • Financing global health initiatives

8. Health Economics and Technology

  • Impact of medical technology advancements on healthcare costs
  • Technology assessment and cost implications
  • Effect on quality of care and access
  • Balancing innovation with affordability

9. Behavioral Economics in Healthcare

  • Principles of behavioral economics relevant to healthcare
  • Patient behavior and decision-making biases
  • Provider incentives and behavior
  • Strategies to promote healthy behaviors
  • Applications to improve healthcare outcomes
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Quick Information

Unit Unit Code : He/Os/Ch/Cc/05/4/A
Difficulty Intermediate
Duration40 hours
Topics9
CreatedJul 21, 2026
GeneratedJul 21, 2026 03:21

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of economics principles
  • Foundational knowledge of healthcare systems
  • Introductory statistics and data interpretation skills

Recommended Resources

  • Drummond, M.F., et al. (2015). Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes. Oxford University Press.
  • Folland, S., Goodman, A.C., & Stano, M. (2017). The Economics of Health and Health Care. Routledge.
  • World Health Organization. (2021). Global Health Observatory data repository.
  • Journal of Health Economics (selected articles)
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) resources on healthcare financing

Unit Topics

9
Introduction to Health Economics
This topic covers the basic concepts and principles of health economics, including the economic prin...
Demand and Supply in Healthcare
Explore the concepts of demand and supply in the context of healthcare, including factors influencin...
Health Insurance and Healthcare Financing
This topic delves into the various health insurance models, the role of insurance in healthcare fina...
Economic Evaluation in Healthcare
Learn about the methods and techniques used to evaluate the economic efficiency of healthcare interv...
Healthcare Market Failures
Understand the concept of market failures in healthcare, including asymmetric information, externali...
Health Policy and Regulation
Examine the role of government in healthcare through health policy development, regulation, and inte...
Global Health Economics
This topic focuses on the economic aspects of global health, including health disparities between co...
Health Economics and Technology
Explore the intersection of health economics and technology, including the impact of medical technol...
Behavioral Economics in Healthcare
Delve into the principles of behavioral economics as applied to healthcare decision-making, includin...