Comparative Health Systems (Elective)

Catalog description

This course examines health systems from a comparative perspective in order to understand how various countries address similar problems. This course begins by discussing global health themes, including; international health organizations, right to health, access to medicines, significant international health issues, women’s health, children’s health, and the environment and health. The course includes a discussion of the different approaches and methods used in comparative health care systems and examine some of the key concepts that will allow for meaningful policy comparisons across countries. The course explores what healthcare systems do and how they have evolved. Different frameworks for healthcare delivery, financing, coverage, and allocation of resources are examined. Students will learn to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various ways of organizing and financing health care and to evaluate health policies according to a range of criteria for cost, quality and equity. The focus will be on select health care systems around the globe and review the structure and functioning of their health systems.