Comparative Health Systems

Module Title: Comparative Health Systems 
ECTS: 5

Module Coordinator:
Dr Carlos Bruen, Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management 

Professor Olena Mazurenko, Fulbright Fellow and Associate Professor at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, USA

Module Description:
This module examines the principles and practice of health system analysis and comparison, including conceptual frameworks for assessing the organisation and relative performance of different healthcare systems. The module aims to provide an overview of the structure and components of healthcare systems and how they function. Students will be equipped to describe and contrast key functions of healthcare systems across OECD and other countries.

Module Objectives:

• To provide a broad overview of the structures and components of health systems
• To build understanding of the principles of health system analysis and comparison and the value of these approaches
• To equip students with the skills to analyse health systems from a comparative perspective 

Module learning outcomes:
On successful completion of the module students should be able to:  

• Identify the role of health systems and the common challenges they face 
• Describe the core functions of health systems and compare how these are addressed in different countries 
• Explain the rationale for comparing health systems and how conceptual and analytical frameworks are used