THE LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

HEALTH ECONOMICS AND POLICY

Develop a deeper understanding of healthcare economics and investigate policy solutions to emergent challenges.

Duration

6 weeks, excluding
orientation

Effort

6–9 hours per week,
entirely online

Learning Format

Weekly modules,
flexible learning

ON COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE, YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH:

1

An in-depth understanding of key economic principles as they relate to the healthcare sector, such as supply and demand, and efficiency and equity.

2

A nuanced perspective on healthcare financing systems and how they can be utilised to realise true universal health coverage.

3

Insight into the complexities of the healthcare labour market, including workforce planning and forecasting, workforce shortages, and external shocks.

4

A balanced view of health and social justice, developed by assessing health inequalities and deconstructing the social determinants of health.

Accreditation Logo

This Health Economics and Policy online certificate course is certified by the United Kingdom CPD Certification Service, and may be applicable to individuals who are members of, or are associated with, UK-based professional bodies. The course has an estimated 50 hours of learning.

Note: should you wish to claim CPD activity, the onus is on you. The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and GetSmarter accept no responsibility, and cannot be held responsible, for the claiming or validation of hours or points.

COURSE CURRICULUM

Over the duration of this online certificate course, you’ll work through the following modules:

Module 1 Economic principles applied to healthcare
Explore key economic principles and how these are applied in the healthcare sector.

Module 2 Health financing systems
Assess the efficiency of health financing systems in the achievement of universal health coverage.

Module 3 The healthcare labour market
Learn about the complexities of the healthcare labour market, including workforce planning and forecasting, workforce shortages, and external shocks.

Module 4 Paying healthcare providers
Navigate the different reimbursement systems in healthcare in terms of their efficiency and incentives.

Module 5 The market for pharmaceuticals
Understand the key steps in the life cycle of a pharmaceutical product and the economic theory underpinning these steps.

Module 6 Health and social justice
Discover the relationship between health inequalities and the social value judgements made by societies.

Please note that module titles and their contents are subject to change during course development.

THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU IF:

  • You’re working in healthcare globally, as a social scientist, public health specialist, or medical and allied staff, and want a comprehensive understanding of the economic factors at work in the sector
  • You’re a professional working in health agencies, governments, or NGOs, and are interested in exploring the policy solutions that might address inequality in the system
  • You’re a healthcare professional who wants to understand contemporary healthcare challenges through the lens of economics
  • You’re involved with policy analysis, advocacy, or formulation, and want a contemporary understanding of healthcare economics, and its impact on topics including health funding and workforce dynamics
  • You’re a finance or economics professional looking for new perspectives on the economics of health insurance financing systems and the healthcare workforce, and how these can impact outcomes across contexts

COURSE CONVENORS

Professor Alistair McGuire

Chair in Health Economics, Professor of Health Economics , Department of Health Policy

Alistair is the chair of health economics at the Department of Health Policy at LSE. Prior to this, he was a professor of economics at City, University of London after being a tutor in economics at the University of Oxford. Alistair has also been a visiting professor at Harvard University, the University of Sydney, the University of York, and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona.

Alistair has acted as an advisor to a number of governments and governmental bodies within and outside the UK. He has also worked with international bodies including the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as pharmaceutical and healthcare insurance companies.

Alistair has pursued an interest in the economics of healthcare for over 30 years, with his research covering a vast range of topics. He has extensive teaching experience and has written numerous books, articles, and reports, and has also been involved in numerous major clinical trials as the lead health economist.

Dr Miqdad Asaria

Assistant Professor, Department of Health Policy

Miqdad is a health economist with extensive experience in both academic and policymaking settings. His research interests include health inequalities, health financing, healthcare prioritisation, and healthcare management with a particular focus on the health systems in India and the UK. He currently holds a fellowship from The Health Foundation to investigate the role management plays in hospital performance. In addition to his position at LSE, Miqdad also holds an adjunct position as assistant professor at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, India, and a visiting position at the University of York, UK.

AN ONLINE EDUCATION THAT SETS YOU APART

This LSE online certificate course is delivered in collaboration with online education provider GetSmarter, part of edX. Join a growing community of global professionals and benefit from the opportunity to:

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Gain verifiable and relevant competencies and earn invaluable recognition from a world-leading social science university, entirely online and in your own time.

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Enjoy a personalised, people-mediated online learning experience created to make you feel supported at every step.

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Experience a flexible but structured approach to online education as you plan your learning around your life to meet weekly milestones.

GET MORE INFORMATION

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