Health Policy and Systems Analysis (HPSA) - hybrid

The course analyses the relationships between global health strategies and national and local health policies and systems development. It focuses then on health systems frameworks, the role and behaviour of institutions and stakeholders, the major innovations in financing and delivering health services, and on how health systems are responding to global changes.

The course also focuses on applying systems science and systems thinking approaches to health systems. Participants will be able to critically review and apply the systems thinking framework to current health systems and policy issues and will be able to review, analyse and compare experiences in health system strengthening and health system interventions in countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. The course assesses the critical elements for measuring and monitoring health systems performance.

The course starts with a distance based preparation phase and is followed from an on-campus phase. The post-campus phase is finished with the handing of the final assignment.

At the end of the course, participants will understand the importance of health systems and policies, and health systems research in international health management and in achieving public health goals. Participants will be acquainted with a systems thinking approach to health systems frameworks and the main conceptual elements of working within such frameworks.

Participants are assessed during both, the distance-based and on-campus phases of the courses, through individual and team assignments, professional presentations, quizzes or short tests, reflective papers and proposed projects.