Overview

This course introduces learners to the foundational concept of health and its critical role in shaping human life and societal well-being. It explores the interconnections between life, health, and healthcare systems, offering a multidimensional understanding of what it means to be healthy. The module examines various theoretical approaches to health, including the biomedical model, health as human capital, Amartya Sen’s capability approach, and the framing of health as a fundamental human right. Through these perspectives, learners will gain insight into how health is understood, measured, and promoted in policy and practice, and its centrality to sustainable development and human dignity.

Syllabus

Approaches to Health and Life

In this module, you will be introduced to the concept of health. You will also explore the relationship between life, health, and healthcare. This module will also cover various approaches to health, such as the biomedical approach, health as a human capital, the capability approach to health, and health as a human right.

Measuring Progress in Health and Healthcare

You will explore various concepts and definitions related to health, diseases, mortality, and morbidity in this module. You will learn about some key ideas related to disease dynamics that would elaborate the broad trajectory of transitions in human health and life. You will also be able to explore various data related to health achievement and its relationship with economic development. You will analyze the case of mortality decline in the UK during the late 19th and early 20th centuries to understand the role of medical technologies and economic development in improving human health.

Public Health Approach and Social Determination of Health (SDH)

In this module, you will explore the public health approach. Starting with John Snow’s experiment, you will be able to appreciate the key principles of the public health approach, which is ingrained in the social sciences, arts, and sciences. Further, you will examine the public health approach adopted during COVID-19 around the world. Subsequently, you will learn why health is socially determined and the basic contours of the SDH framework, with special emphasis on the role of power. The module discusses some key social determinants of health: gender, work, food and nutrition, and climate change.

Economics of Health and Healthcare

In this module, you will be introduced to the contours of health economics. You will also be able to appraise them using the analytical frameworks, tools, and techniques offered by health economics that help in dealing with problems of health and healthcare delivery. You will investigate market failures in health and healthcare, as well as the role of government in addressing these failures. You will also learn about the ideas of public goods and merit goods in the context of healthcare. Lastly, you will be introduced to the basics of economic evaluation methods for health and their critiques.

Health Systems: Outcomes and Intermediate Outcomes

In this module, you will gain an understanding of the basic definition of health systems and their goals and outcomes, with particular attention to the idea of equity. This module will also review the ‘intermediate outcomes’ to explore how improving access, efficiency, and quality will improve the effective availability of services. You will also gain insight into how these contribute to the ultimate goals of improving people’s health, financial protection, and satisfaction with their healthcare.

Health Financing

This module will introduce you to various aspects of healthcare financing. You will gain an understanding of different forms of health financing. You will also learn about the roles of agents, including those of states, markets, and individuals. In this module, the major emphasis will be given to out-of-pocket spending on health and its impact on equality and access. You will also understand healthcare and financing systems from a historical perspective, with special emphasis on developing countries.

Health Systems for Universal Health Coverage

In this module, you will be introduced to universal health coverage (UHC). You will further explore using the theory of change (ToC) framework to analyze the design of the health system to achieve UHC. This module will also discuss the challenges developing countries face in achieving UHC.