Principles of Cost-Benefit Analysis

Catalog description

This course will introduce students to the economic evaluation of health programs and interventions. It uses an economic model to analyze health services and identify inputs of production as physical facilities, equipment, human resources, and medications. It also examines changes in health status as the output of a production process using the previous inputs. Since the availability of resources required to fulfill the population needs for health services is limited the efficient use of resources must be e mphasized. Cost benefit, cost effectiveness, and cost utility analysis are discussed as methods that allow the evaluation different alternative, programs, projects or interventions. Students are expected to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to cho ose the most adequate methodology in their analysis of cost and benefits of health services. Case discussions, homework, and lectures are the teaching strategies used in this course.