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HSA6112 - International Health Systems
Dr. Bernardo Ramirez

Week 2: An Introduction to Health Systems.

Health Determinants Measurements and Trends.

Health Education, Poverty and the Economy

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

Describe the main functions of a health system
Review how health systems are organized
Discuss selected examples of health systems
Outline key health system issues and how they might be addressed
Describe how health systems in low, middle and high income countries might better improve health outcomes
Describe some examples of successful efforts at public and private sector cooperation in health services delivery
Analyze the main elements of a health care system and its determinants.
Describe the determinants of health
Define the most important health indicators
Discuss the differences between incidence and prevalence, morbidity, disability and mortality; non-communicable and communicable diseases.
Describe the demographic and epidemiological transitions
Describe the leading causes of death in low, middle and high-income countries.
Develop the basic ideas and elements for a framework of analysis of health care systems.
Describe the links between health and education
Describe the economic relations of health, cost of illness and impact of health expenditure on poverty
Describe the connection between health, equity and cost.

Introduction:

This module will provide you with information about the main elements of a health system with the perspective of structure, process and outcomes developed by Avedis Donabedian. You will also start understanding the determinants of a health system and how there is a need to balance them to maintain a healthy and equilateral triangle. You will be able to learn more about these elements using the Power Point presentation in this module. Please use the links of the power point slides to expand your understanding of the topics. You can also consult the references included in the respective section of this module.

You will review the different perspectives of health systems around the world as you read the designated chapters for this week in the weekly readings section. This information will provide you with enough elements to begin developing a framework of analysis for a health system in any country in the world.

If you are a student from the health services administration program you probably have a very good idea and understanding of the US health care system. If you are from another department or want to review some basic updated information, read the introductory chapter of Health United States 2011 and review the links in the reference section of this Module. It is important that you understand the components, dynamics and parameters of our health care system in order to establish a comparative framework with other health care systems in the world and to appreciate possible lessons and ideas that could contrast or complement our own.