Photo: Jenny Watts
A short course on tools for allocating health resources in resource poor settings run in partnership with Monash University's Centre for Health Economics.
Dates:
*Postponed from 2008* New dates 31 March - 3 April 2009
Course Overview
This intensive five day course will introduce participants to health economics; development economics; methods of health financing; and health economic tools to aid resource allocation and priority setting decision-making in the health sector. It incorporates techniques for obtaining data in challenging developing country settings. This course will be useful for those working in, or interested in working in health or finance ministries, academic research or International NGOs, where duties involve making decisions or devising policies on healthcare spending, financing or resource allocation.
The first module will give participants an introduction to the relevant and important economic themes, so a background in economics is not required to make the most of this short course.
Case studies and exercises will be used to illustrate many of the key concepts.
The course will be delivered in English, therefore it is expected that participants will have competence in spoken & written English.
Course Objectives
- To enhance knowledge and understanding of health economics and health financing;
- To introduce participants to the techniques of economic evaluation in health care;
- To explore alternative methods for priority setting and resource allocation in health care; and
- To provide participants with the ability to determine key health issues, and tools to prioritise health issues in their own environment.
Course Content
Module 1: Health economics for developing countries (1 day)
This module will provide participants with an introduction to economics and how it relates to health and development.
Topics covered include:
- an overview of “the economic problem”;
- development and development economics;
- understanding health systems; and
- trends in global development
Module 2: Choosing between interventions; an introduction to economic evaluation in healthcare (1.5 days)
This module will introduce the technique of evaluating health programs from an economic perspective. This will assist in determining which programs return the best health gain for a given use of resources for an identified health priority.
Topics covered include:
- methods of economic evaluation, eg cost effectiveness and cost benefit analyses;
- determining the resources used, costs and outcomes of health programs;
- interpreting the results of economic evaluation; and
- incorporating economic evaluation into health development proposals.
Module 3: Determining health priorities: using economic techniques to inform decision making (1.5 days)
Health programs competing for resources are an issue in any locality. This module will introduce techniques to assist decision-making in funding priorities at a provincial or national level across a variety of health programs.
Topics covered include:
- determining local and national health issues;
- priority setting models;
- planning for future health investment; and
- fairness and equity in priority setting
Module 4: Health financing (1 day)
This module will examine different methods to fund the delivery of health care across the health sector. The role of incentives underlying various models will be explored and the implications these may have for achieving equity and efficiency in the health care system.
Topics covered include:
- alternative payment mechanisms for health service consumers;
- alternative arrangements for paying health workers;
- methods for purchasing pharmaceuticals; and
- financing health insurance.
Single Unit enrolments
Participants may elect to attend any single module instead of the whole course. Single units are $500 inc gst. Please indicate on your application which module you wish to attend.
Course location
Burnet Institute,
Level 2 Training Rooms
85 Commercial Road, Melbourne
3004, Australia
Cost:
Early-bird registration fee is AUD$1200 inc gst for applications received by January 31,2009
Standard registration fee is AUD$1400inc gst for applications received after January 31, 2009
ACFID/NGO registration fee is AUD$1200 inc gst
Single module is $500 inc gst per module.
(Registration fee includes course materials, & morning & afternoon tea).
Please do not confirm travel arrangements until your registration has been confirmed as places in the course are limited.
For academic credit enrolments please enrol via Monash University:
Contact Mrs Sandra Johnson
Tel:+61 3 990 50789
Fax: +61 3 9496 4424
or click here to Email
To learn more about our partner, Centre for Health Economics at Monash Uni, please click here