ECON 784 : Special Topic: Health Economics
Business and Economics
2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Health Economics
Inequalities in healthcare access, utilisation and health outcomes exist in New Zealand and globally. Addressing health inequalities is a goal of the current New Zealand health reforms, and delivering equity an obligation in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Health equity also features throughout the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. While healthcare resources are finite, wants and demands on the healthcare system are growing, resource allocation decisions need to be both efficient and equitable. This course in Health Economics will cover a selection of topics in health economics, particularly with respect to the methods employed to inform resource allocation decisions and broader issues of health financing.
The course will begin with an overview of the health and healthcare issues in New Zealand and globally, including the level of health and the level of inequity in health and the amount of healthcare funding and its distribution. We will then consider a number of different tools and methods available to promote equity and efficiency in decision making; including how healthcare systems are organised, how healthcare is funded, how health professionals are paid, methods of evaluation, tools to inform decision making and methods to measure societal preferences. Topics will range from macroeconomic issues like New Zealand’s Wellbeing Budget, to microeconomic issues like the funding of medicines and the incentives to promote healthy behaviours. The course will consist of lectures and class discussion, with the final weeks dedicated to group work and presentations to pitch health policies and complete a policy report.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Apply the range of tools, concepts and models to address contemporary economic issues in the healthcare system (Capability 1 and 3)
- Analyse health policy challenges facing governments around the world and identify solutions to these challenges (Capability 2 and 3)
- Critically evaluate evaluate health economics research. (Capability 2 and 5.1)
- Explain and communicate recent academic research in the field of Health Economics orally and in writing. (Capability 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)
- Apply the principle of equity – as described in both Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Sustainable Development Goals – to health economic advice (Capability 5.2 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 30% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
For this course, you can expect 3 hours of interactive lectures, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments, group work and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course. The course will not include live online events. Attendance on campus is required for the test and exam. The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Journal articles will provide the basis for much of this course. Basic understanding can be gained from the following texts:
• McPake, B., Normand, C., Smith, S., & Nolan, A. (2020). Health economics: an international perspective. Routledge.
• Glied S, Smith P (2011). The Oxford handbook of health economics. Oxford University Press
• McIntyre, D., Mooney G. (2007) The Economics of Health Equity. Cambridge University Press.
Lecture notes will be made available on Canvas. Ad-hoc readings will be suggested in preparation for the live presentations and discussions of selected topics in Public Economics planned for the second half of the semester.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.