PUBH704 Health Economics

Note: This information is for 2013, and may have been updated since the Guide to Enrolment was printed.

Prescription

An introduction to health economics including consideration of the market system, efficiency and equity in resource allocation, and economic evaluation.

Limited to: MA, MHealSc, MHealSc(Endorsed), MPH, DPH, PGDipArts, PGDipHealMgt, PGDipHealSc, PGDipHealSc(End), PGDipPHC, PGDipPHC(Endorsed), PGCertPH(Endorsed), PGCertPHC, PGCertPHC(Endorsed)

Note: Can normally only be taken for the qualifications specified above.

Convenor

• Dr Ian Sheerin

Eligibility

Suitable for graduate students from a range of disciplines, managers or people working in the health services, people wanting to develop skills in economics, public health and health service management. This paper can be completed by anyone with limited arithmetic skills as the emphasis is on understanding the concepts and principles of health economics in a practical sense.

Content

This course commences with an introduction to economics as a social science, outlining its nature and scope. The approaches and viewpoints that economists bring to the health field are then explored.

Specific topics include:

• the market system and the analyses of the market
• efficiency and equity considerations
• aspects of market failure in health and alternative means of health care provision
• principles of costing and key cost concepts,
• formal economic evaluation and its role in promoting an efficient allocation of resources
• principles of analysing the benefits of health interventions
• methods for prioritising decisions on health interventions
• selected labour market issues

By the end of the course, students should have an appreciation of the most important economic issues and problems encountered in the health field and the extent to which economic analysis can assist in decision making.

The course will help people analyse and understand the costs of health services. It will also help analyse the benefits of services and cost-effectiveness.

Teaching Arrangements

Weekly tutorials and / or audioconferences: Wednesday mornings 9:00AM -  12:00PM.

Plus two compulsory two-day block courses in Christchurch.

For details, contact: yvonne.obrien@otago.ac.nz

Assessment

Further Information

Department of Public Health and General Practice
University of Otago, Christchurch
PO Box 4345
Christchurch

Ian Sheerin
Tel 64 3 364 3626
Email ian.sheerin@otago.ac.nz

Yvonne O'Brien
Tel 64 3 364 3602
Email yvonne.obrien@otago.ac.nz

Timetable