Health Economics/Economic Evaluation

Major/Minor/Specialisation !244-CW-SPC+1002 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Year and Campus: 2010

Coordinator

Dr Arthur Hsueh

Contact

Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics
Telephone: +61 3 8344 9111
Email: chppe-enquiries@ unimelb.edu.au

OR

Academic Programs Office
Melbourne School of Population Health
Tel: +61 3 8344 9339
Fax: +61 3 8344 0824
Email: sph-gradinfo@unimelb.edu.au

Overview: Students sub-specialising in Health Economics will learn to appreciate and apply the key concepts behind health economics as a way of thinking. They will be able to analyse and discuss key policy issues in public health from an “economic” perspective. They will, for example, critically appraise the structure and financing of the Australian health care system, understand and assess health expenditure trends and their associated policy implications. They will consider the arguments for and against competition in health care (and “economic rationalism”), and apply economic reasoning to policy problems (such as the strengths and weaknesses of reform options for Medicare). Students often choose to combine Health Economics with the study of Economic Evaluation (see below) and Health Policy subjects. Research Projects in Health Economics have considered topics such as:
  • Managed Care in Indonesia: Assessment of health insurance approaches
  • The appropriate use of financial levers to promote preventative care by GPs

Students sub-specialising in Economic Evaluation will learn to appreciate when an economic evaluation might be needed, the types of economic appraisal that are available, together with their strengths and limitations. Students will appreciate how “economic evaluation” differs from other forms of evaluation; the steps involved in conducting an economic evaluation; and the key issues of protocol design. Through practical case studies students will be able to distinguish a “good” study from a “poor” study; understand the various factors that may impact on how economic evaluation is received by managers, together with other possible stakeholders. Students will be introduced to the links between economic evaluation and priority setting/health service planning.

Economic Evaluation I is taught with a focus on case studies and practical skills in critical appraisal. Economic Evaluation II has more of a theoretical flavour (without losing the case studies), develops more complex aspects of protocol design, and provides a comprehensive introduction to priority setting. Students may usefully combine Economic Evaluation with subjects in Epidemiology (the evidence base for economic appraisal) and Program Evaluation (complementary form of appraisal). Research Projects in Economic Evaluation have considered such topics as:
  • Allocative efficiency in health promotion program planning: A protocol using Program Budgeting and Marginal Analysis (PBMA);
  • Assessing Cost Effectiveness (ACE) in Mental Health: Psychological and pharmacological interventions for generalized anxiety disorder;
  • Cost-effectiveness of vaccines: Methodological issues

Objectives: -
Structure & Available Subjects: 200 Point Program: 14 subjects and a research project
175 Point Program: 12 subjects and a research project
150 Point Program: 10 subjects and a research project

Subject Options:

Two Core Consortium Subjects

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
March
12.50

Recommended Consortium Subjects

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
AND a mimimum of one from
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 2
12.50

Pre-requisites for Research Project in Health Economics

Students must have at least one of the required subjects completed before starting the project, but the other subject may be taken at the same time as the project.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50

Pre-requisites for Research Project in Economic Evaluation

Students must have at least one of the required subjects completed before starting the project, but the other subject(s) may be taken at the same time as the project.
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50

Recommended Electives

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:

Research Project

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.50
Related Course(s): Master of Public Health

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