Applied Health Economics and Health Systems
The course “Applied Health Economics & Health Systems” is a comprehensive academic program designed to provide a strong foundation in the principles, tools, and applications of health economics within the broader context of health systems. This course is especially relevant for students, researchers, public health professionals, and policymakers who aim to understand the economic dimensions of healthcare delivery and decision-making. ....
This course is instructed by Dr. Shankar Prinja, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh, a leading institution in medical education and public health research in India. Drawing upon extensive academic expertise and real-world policy experience, the course aims to bridge theoretical concepts with practical applications in the Indian and global health systems context.
The course is offered free of cost, ensuring accessibility to a wide audience. It features high-quality recorded lectures, carefully structured to build conceptual clarity and practical understanding. Each module is designed to progressively develop knowledge, starting from foundational concepts to advanced analytical frameworks used in health policy and economic evaluation.
Department of Community Medicine & School of Public Health, PGIMER has partnered with UNICEF, India to build health economics evidence for policy decision making by setting up a Health Economics Research Centre (HERC). This centre serves as a dedicated hub for advancing research and expertise in the field of health economics. By systematically collecting, curating, and disseminating up-to-date information, the HERC aims to empower policymakers, healthcare practitioners, researchers, and stakeholders with the insights needed to make well-informed decisions. The HERC acts as a knowledge hub for globally accepted and nationally relevant best practices aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.
The capacity building of public health professionals and health program officers on Health financing and Health economics is one of the key objectives of HERC. To achieve this objective, online courses on the basic and advanced concepts of health economics are designed to orient the policymakers, program implementers, researchers, academicians, and other health-related professionals towards the dynamics behind resource allocation decisions using economic evidence as the mainstay.
Instructor: 
Prof. Shankar Prinja
Health Systems: Concepts & Issues
MODULE 1
Introduction to Health Economics
MODULE 2
Microeconomics: Demand & Supply of Healthcare
MODULE 3
Equity: Concept & Measurement
MODULE 4
Healthcare Financing: Overview
MODULE 5
Healthcare Financing in India
MODULE 6
Strategic Purchasing & Provider Payment Mechanisms
MODULE 7
Measuring the Impact of Public Health Programs
MODULE 8
Introduction to Economic Evaluation
MODULE 9
HTA Ecosystem in India
MODULE 10
Learning Objectives
This course aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of health systems and their functioning, along with introducing key concepts and principles of health economics and their practical applications. It enables learners to analyze the demand and supply dynamics of healthcare services and understand the concept of equity and its measurement in health. The course also explores healthcare financing mechanisms, particularly in the Indian context, and equips participants with the skills to apply economic evaluation techniques in assessing public health programs. Additionally, it provides insights into the role of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in supporting evidence-based policy and decision-making in healthcare.
Develop a clear understanding of health systems and their key components
Introduce fundamental concepts and methods in health economics
Analyze healthcare demand, supply, and market behavior
Understand equity and its measurement in healthcare
Examine healthcare financing mechanisms, with a special focus on India
Understand the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) ecosystem in India
Course Testimonials
This course was really informative in terms of relating the basics of economics with health care program. Thank you!
Dr. Mahewash Ansari
Wonderfully introduced healthcare professionals to the principles of Health Economics.