Health Systems Development: Introduction to Health Systems
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Health Systems Development: Introduction to Health Systems
This course is part of Health Systems Development Specialization
Instructor: Dr Sondus Hassounah
14,588 already enrolled
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231 reviews
231 reviews
What you'll learn
Critically compare different health system models in order to identify opportunities and challenges for health systems around the world.
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There are 4 modules in this course
This specialization is intended for people interested in health systems and how they function. Participants will learn about the global health systems landscape and the challenges and opportunities to achieve better health outcomes.
This specialisation is divided into three courses which are offered as massive online open access courses (Courses 1-3), and a fourth course which is offered as part of the Online MPH degree (capstone). The Health Systems Development specialisation is geared toward learners who have no prior knowledge of health systems or those who are starting to explore this area of study. Overall, sessions in this specialisation span 16 week with approximately 96 hours of viewing learning materials per week. Formative assessments in the form of quizzes and activities are incorporated throughout the weeks to help learners gauge their level of depth of understanding and to prepare them for their summative assessments. Participants will have the opportunity to explore a range of areas within health systems. The first course will introduce the main building blocks of health systems and shed some light on key components of well-functioning health systems including how health system performance is assessed. In course two, students will learn how to conduct a health impact assessment and how to assess the impacts of policies, plans and projects, as well as how that support decision-makers make choices regarding alternatives and improvements to prevent disease or injury and to actively promote health. The third course explores human resources for health and service delivery. In this course, students will learn about and analyse country experiences in transforming health services delivery, and interventions and to address human resources for health challenges at a global level. By the end of this specialisation, learners should be able to identify key components of, and critically compare, different health systems; analyse country experiences in transforming services; and apply theoretical framework for assessing the health impacts of policies, plans and projects.
This week you will learn about what is meant by health systems through Identifying key components of well-functioning health systems, and the importance of the interplay between the six building blocks listed in the WHO Building Blocks framework . You will also learn about the differences between health system functions, how to distinguish between various health financing models, and the impact of health system organisation on health seeking behaviour.
What's included
8 videos9 readings3 assignments3 discussion prompts1 plugin
8 videos•Total 43 minutes
- What is a Health System? (Part 1)•5 minutes
- What is a Health System? (Part 2)•6 minutes
- Health System Functions•6 minutes
- Historical Evolution of Thinking about Health Systems•7 minutes
- Health System Financing (Part 1)•7 minutes
- Health System Financing (Part 2)•5 minutes
- Case Study: Health Financing and Health Seeking Behaviours (Lusardi et al Research Findings)•3 minutes
- Recap•5 minutes
9 readings•Total 155 minutes
- About Imperial College & the Team•10 minutes
- How to be successful in this course?•10 minutes
- Grading Policy•10 minutes
- Glossary and Reading List•10 minutes
- Introduction to Health System•25 minutes
- Global Health System Actors•15 minutes
- High Quality Health Systems•25 minutes
- Bismarck or Beveridge: a Beauty Contest between Dinosaurs•25 minutes
- Key Health Financing Terms•25 minutes
3 assignments•Total 95 minutes
- Health System Functions•30 minutes
- Health Financing•30 minutes
- Health System Financing•35 minutes
3 discussion prompts•Total 60 minutes
- Nice to meet you!•10 minutes
- How is Your Own Country's Health System Financed?•25 minutes
- How Can Health System Financing be Improved in Your Country?•25 minutes
1 plugin•Total 15 minutes
- Complete our short pre-course survey•15 minutes
This week you will learn about health system governance and priority setting. You will also learn how health priorities are determined in various health systems around the world, and get a chance to appreciate the challenges facing good health system governance.
What's included
4 videos6 readings3 assignments2 discussion prompts
4 videos•Total 20 minutes
- Health Systems Governance•7 minutes
- Defining Priority Setting in Health and Healthcare•5 minutes
- Country Experiences in Priority Setting•5 minutes
- Recap•3 minutes
6 readings•Total 230 minutes
- Health System Governance on a Global Level•60 minutes
- Health System Governance: Principal–Agent Linkages and Health System Strengthening•25 minutes
- The Global Health System: Actors, Norms, and Expectations in Transition•25 minutes
- Defining the Global Health System and Systematically Mapping its Network of Actors (Optional Reading)•30 minutes
- Priority Setting in Healthcare: Lessons from the Experiences of Eight Countries•45 minutes
- How are New Vaccines Prioritized in Low-Income Countries?•45 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
- Health System Governance•30 minutes
- Health System Governance and Priority Setting•25 minutes
- Priority Setting in Health & Healthcare•35 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 50 minutes
- Influence of Public versus Private Actors on Health System Governance•25 minutes
- What are Priorities for the Health System in your Country?•25 minutes
This week you will learn about health system performance assessment. You will learn how to evaluate the extent to which a health system meets its key objectives through learning how to Identify components of health system performance assessment and applying health system performance assessment tools.
What's included
7 videos4 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts
7 videos•Total 34 minutes
- What Constitutes a "Good" Health System?•5 minutes
- Health System Performance Measurement (Part 1)•6 minutes
- Health System Performance Measurement (Part 2)•5 minutes
- Tools for Health System Performance Assessment (Part 1)•6 minutes
- Tools for Health System Performance Assessment (Part 2)•6 minutes
- Exercise: Conduct a Quick Health System Performance Assessment•3 minutes
- Recap•4 minutes
4 readings•Total 270 minutes
- Introduction to Health System Performance Assessment•25 minutes
- Improving Performance of Health Systems•40 minutes
- Optional Readings•135 minutes
- Health System Profiles•70 minutes
2 assignments•Total 75 minutes
- Health System Profiles•40 minutes
- Health System Performance Assessment•35 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 50 minutes
- Which Health System Do You Think is the Best?•25 minutes
- Now, which Health System Do You Think is the Best One?•25 minutes
This week you learn what is meant by universal health coverage (UHC), and how taking steps towards UHC means steps towards equity, development priorities, and social inclusion and cohesion. You will also learn about examples from across the globe whereby countries are implementing reforms to advance universal health coverage.
What's included
5 videos3 readings1 assignment1 peer review
5 videos•Total 19 minutes
- What is Universal Health Coverage and Why Does it Matter?•6 minutes
- Progress Towards Universal Health Coverage: Examples from Around the World•6 minutes
- Peer Review Assessment Briefing•3 minutes
- Course 1 Recap•2 minutes
- Course 2: Looking Ahead•1 minute
3 readings•Total 145 minutes
- Sustainable Development Goals•60 minutes
- Tracking Universal Health Coverage•60 minutes
- System Thinking for Health System Strengthening•25 minutes
1 assignment•Total 35 minutes
- Universal Health Coverage•35 minutes
1 peer review•Total 210 minutes
- Planning and Conducting a Rapid Health System Performance Assessment in Your Own Country•210 minutes
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Showing 3 of 231
Reviewed on Jan 10, 2021
Thank you for the course. Samantha Henry in Guyana
Reviewed on Oct 8, 2020
the course was really helpful I hope i could use this on my future professsion to help and at least less the work of a hospital institution.
Reviewed on Feb 24, 2021
Awesome! Really helped me understand the intricacies of any health system in the world.
Frequently asked questions
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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
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