Economics and Health Policy

Teachers

Included in study programs

Teaching results

Students will gain theoretical and practical knowledge of the health care economics, health policy, the organization of health systems and international cooperation in healthcare and humanitarian aid. They will be able to implement knowledge of economics in health care system and practice for the optimal allocation of human, material and financial resources so as to integrate medical, organizational and economic rationality.
After completing the course, the student should be able to:
Knowledge and understanding:
- acquire theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of health policy
- know the specifics of distorting effects on health markets
- understand the relationship of society to the patient, understand the values, principles, and goals of health policy
- understand the principles of functioning of health policy models, the relationship between socio-economic indicators and health, the importance of socio-economic measures in addressing health inequalities
- gain an overview of information sources, apply knowledge in practical situations and take a creative approach to solving specific health policy issues
- understand socio-economic relations for their effective application in economic practice
- to gain knowledge about the dynamics of global health problems
Skills
- analyze and professionally process theoretical and practical issues of the functioning of health systems, financing and institutional provision of the health care system
- be familiar with basic models of financing and organization of health systems
- be familiar with the theories, legislation, concepts and strategic documents related to the issue
Competences:
- acquire specific and core competencies for the needs of economic practice, as well as further study, with an emphasis on systemic competencies in the field of functioning of the health care system
- effectively use knowledge, apply it in specific situations in the creation and implementation of health policy while taking into account the social aspect
- identify the responsibilities of specific institutions according to their competencies in health care
- the ability to work independently with studies related to health policy, will be able to interpret the results of research and take a position on them based on economic arguments
- familiarise with the types of markets in the provision of health care and in the health insurance system, in the role of public budgets in health care
- discuss current health problems and their possible solutions

Indicative content

Economic laws and their functioning in healthcare.
Health policy, its tasks and concepts.
Health needs as a starting point for health policy and health care.
Health systems.
Trends in health policy.
Health insurance systems.
Reimbursement for healthcare in the EU.
Market imperfections. Determinants of human population health.
Institutional set-up of medical institutions and facilities and organisational set-up.
The role of the state, the role of the market and the role of the household in providing health care. Healthcare financing. Healthcare planning.
Management of improving the quality of health care.
Health insurance management.

Support literature

1. Fuchs, V. R.: Health Economics and Policy: Selected Writings by Victor Fuchs, World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd, 2018
2. Nováková, M.: Zdravie a zdravotná starostlivosť v socioekonomických súvislostiach, Vydavateľstvo Ekonóm, Bratislava, 2014.
3. Pechová, M. - Stanek, V: Zdravotná politika, Vydavateľstvo Ekonóm, Bratislava, 2010.
4. Ministerstvo zdravotníctva: Strategický rámec starostlivosti o zdravie 2014–2030.

Requirements to complete the course

15% individual written work, 15% seminar work, 70% exam

Language whose command is required to complete the course

Slovak, English

Date of approval: 12.03.2024

Date of the latest change: 27.10.2021