Healthcare Economics Training Course: Analyzing The Complexities Of Health And Healthcare

Introduction:

Healthcare is a vital sector of any economy, yet it faces unique challenges. This Healthcare Economics training course provides you with the economic frameworks and tools to understand the complexities of health and healthcare systems. You'll explore the economic principles underlying healthcare demand, supply, financing, and regulation. From health insurance and pharmaceutical markets to health policy and equity, this course equips you to analyze and address the critical economic issues facing the healthcare sector.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for professionals and individuals interested in the economic aspects of healthcare. The target audience includes:

• Healthcare administrators and managers
• Health policy analysts and researchers
• Pharmaceutical and medical device professionals
• Insurance professionals
• Public health professionals
• Economists working in the healthcare sector
• Anyone seeking to understand the economics of health and healthcare

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this Healthcare Economics training course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the economic principles underlying health and healthcare markets.
• Analyze the demand for healthcare and health insurance.
• Evaluate different healthcare financing mechanisms, including public and private insurance.
• Assess the role of government in regulating healthcare markets.
• Understand the economics of pharmaceutical markets and innovation.
• Analyze the performance of healthcare systems and identify areas for improvement.
• Apply economic tools to evaluate healthcare policies and programs.
• Understand the economic dimensions of health disparities and equity.
• Critically evaluate healthcare economics research and publications.
• Contribute to informed decision-making in the healthcare sector.

Duration

5 Days

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Healthcare Economics

• What is healthcare economics? Defining the field and its importance.
• The unique characteristics of healthcare markets: Uncertainty, information asymmetry, and externalities.
• Key economic concepts in healthcare: Supply, demand, elasticity, and market equilibrium.
• Course overview: Structure, learning objectives, and assessment methods.

Module 2: Demand for Healthcare

• The demand for health: A human capital perspective.
• The demand for healthcare services: Factors influencing demand, including price, income, and insurance.
• Elasticity of demand: Measuring responsiveness to price changes.
• Behavioral economics and healthcare demand: The role of preferences and biases.

Module 3: Supply of Healthcare

• The supply of healthcare services: Physicians, hospitals, and other providers.
• Production of health: Combining inputs to produce health outcomes.
• Hospital behavior: Competition, ownership, and incentives.
• Physician behavior: Agency relationships and physician-induced demand.

Module 4: Health Insurance

• The role of health insurance: Reducing financial risk and access to care.
• Types of health insurance: Private insurance, public insurance (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid), and managed care.
• Moral hazard and adverse selection: Problems in health insurance markets.
• The economics of health insurance design.

Module 5: Healthcare Financing

• Healthcare expenditures: Trends and drivers.
• Financing mechanisms: Out-of-pocket payments, premiums, taxes, and subsidies.
• Budgeting and resource allocation in healthcare.
• The role of government in healthcare financing.

Module 6: Pharmaceutical Economics

• The pharmaceutical industry: Research and development, marketing, and regulation.
• Drug pricing and patent protection.
• Generic drugs and competition.
• The economics of pharmaceutical innovation.

Module 7: Healthcare Regulation

• The role of government in regulating healthcare markets.
• Regulation of healthcare providers: Licensing, quality control, and price controls.
• Regulation of health insurance: Market entry, rate setting, and consumer protection.
• Antitrust and competition policy in healthcare.

Module 8: Healthcare System Analysis

• Comparing healthcare systems: Different models of healthcare delivery and financing.
• Performance measurement: Access, quality, and efficiency.
• Health system reforms: Evaluating policy options for improving healthcare systems.
• International comparisons of healthcare systems.

Module 9: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis in Healthcare

• Cost-effectiveness analysis: Comparing the costs and outcomes of different healthcare interventions.
• Measuring costs and outcomes: QALYs, DALYs, and other metrics.
• Decision rules for cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Applications of cost-effectiveness analysis in healthcare decision-making.

Module 10: Health Equity and Disparities

• Health disparities: Differences in health outcomes across different groups.
• Economic determinants of health: Income, education, and social factors.
• Equity in access to healthcare and health outcomes.
• Policies to reduce health disparities.

Module 11: Behavioral Economics in Healthcare

• Applying behavioral economics to healthcare decisions.
• Nudging and other behavioral interventions to improve health outcomes.
• Patient behavior and adherence to treatment.
• The role of preferences and biases in healthcare choices.

Module 12: Advanced Topics and Current Issues in Healthcare Economics

• The economics of long-term care.
• The role of technology in healthcare.
• Big data and analytics in healthcare.
• The future of healthcare economics.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.