Health Economics in Public Health

This module introduces health-care decision-makers, planners, clinicians, and managers to the core principles of health economics and the application of economic analysis in health systems. It equips participants with practical analytical tools to support informed decision-making in resource-constrained settings. Learners will develop the ability to apply economic reasoning to real-world health-care challenges, including resource allocation, service planning and evaluation, priority setting across programs, financial sustainability of health systems, and regulation of private practice. The module emphasizes the economic perspective as an essential complement to clinical, public-health, and managerial decision-making, particularly in policy formulation and health-system planning.

1. Upon successful completion of this module, participants will be able to:
2. Explain the fundamental principles of health economics, including basic microeconomic concepts of supply and demand.
3. Differentiate between key economic evaluation methods, including cost-minimization, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and cost-benefit analyses.
4. Describe market mechanisms and their implications within health-care systems.
5. Measure, analyze, and value costs and health outcomes associated with health-care interventions.
6. Apply economic concepts and methods to health-care research and service evaluation projects.
7. Analyze managerial and purchasing-related issues from a health-economics perspective.