Context:

The opportunity to research a particular country’s healthcare system will facilitate understanding of the interdependent relationship between economics, health care and public health. You can begin to get an understanding of the way a country perceives health and well-­­being by examining the areas to which resources are allocated, how efficiently they are managed, and how effective they are in terms of health care outcomes.

Instructions:

Select a public health system in a country of your choosing (other than your own).

Part A: Group Presentation Assessment Description:

In a small group of 3 to 4 students prepare your presentation, discuss the following issues:

How the public health system is both organised and funded. As part of this, describe the following:

1. The percentage of Gross Domestic Product spent upon health and how this compares with Australia (or another country);
2. Where the money to fund this system comes from;
3. How expenditures for public health services, including prevention programs, are estimated.
4. What the mix of public and private expenditure and services is;
5. Whether a proportion of funding comes from development assistance for health or any form of innovative financing;
6. The underlying trends (demographic, changes in treatment, or technology) which help to explain expenditure;
7. The extent to which health coverage is universal.
8. Any economic levers that are used, or could be used, to achieve better health outcomes in your chosen country.

How your chosen country performs in terms of the key elements or building blocks of the health system (as identified by WHO 2007; 2009) e.g. are there key workforce shortages in a particular profession and how might imbalances be addressed; and is the workforce appropriately trained to develop core competencies?

Explain what cost-­­benefit analysis and cost-­­effectiveness analysis are and how they could be used to assist with resource allocation in relation to analysing the health system (you are not expected to perform the  analysis,  but  you  are required to understand these key concepts and say how you might go about the analysis). Additionally, describe a potential health system reform you could implement in your chosen country to improve weaknesses in the system.

Part B: Individual Case Study Summary

In 1000 words (+/- 10%), write a summary of the key points from the three sections of Part A. This should include a concise summary of:

• How the public health system is both organised and funded
• How your chosen country performs in terms of the WHO’s key building blocks of the health system
• A potential health system reform you could implement in your chosen country to improve weaknesses in the system

Note: This is an individual assessment and students must work independently to create their own individual work