University of Technology Sydney

26101 Health Economics and Evaluation

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

New healthcare technologies provide opportunities to improve health outcomes but may place additional pressure on available healthcare resources. One of the key challenges for health systems is to ensure that new health technologies offer value for money. It is therefore crucial that a future workforce develop a deep understanding of the healthcare system and the way health care is financed, purchased and provided. As such, there is a high need to develop workforce skills to evaluate and optimise the utilisation of technologies in healthcare systems. This subject provides students with an understanding of the economics of health and health care, and enables them to apply analytical economics skills to problems of resource allocation in the health system. Furthermore, it provides students with a critical understanding of the principles, techniques and real-world application of health technology assessment, clinical evidence synthesis, patient outcomes and economic modelling.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts of microeconomics applied to health and health care
2. Discuss characteristics of the Australian health care system, including advantages and disadvantages of this system.
3. Describe the role and value of health technology assessment in product development, market access and reimbursement
4. Apply methods for economic evaluation of health technologies

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject adopts a blended approach using online resources (educational videos, podcasts, readings, and mini quizzes), interactive, face-to-face lectures (usually 2 hours per week) and tutorials (usually 1 hour per week). During part of the tutorials and at home, students will also work on an HTA Consultancy Project. The HTA Consultancy Project will prepare students for evaluating a solution for an industry-posed problem related to health economics. The other tutorials will use a mixture of teaching approaches, including a debate and a game.

Online resources are organised by week, and students are expected to study these before the accompanying lectures/tutorials. Each week has associated pre-work and may have a self-administered mini quiz, to be completed at least on the evening before the lectures it relates to. The mini quiz results will be used by the lecturer to direct attention to concepts that were found to be difficult. As part of the online work, students will watch an educational video to experience the journey that a product (i.e. pharmaceutical) travels from its development by industry until it reaches patients in need. Students will also learn about the role of health economics in decision making by potential future employers.

The use of the UTS Learning Management System is integral to the subject and students are expected to login regularly to receive information relating to scheduling, assessment tasks, lecture and tutorial times and locations, to participate in the online forums, quizzes, and to access online resources. Students will also be able to access the Discussion Board for Health Economics & Evaluation. All enquiries regarding the content of lectures/tutorials should be posted in this discussion forum.

During this subject, students will receive feedback:

During lectures, through discussion of mini quiz results (focusing on questions that proved difficult), and through interactive class activities.

During tutorials, through in-class discussion and supervision/help with the HTA Consultancy Project.

After each assessment task, to learn from mistakes. Feedback on assessment task 1 will be provided at least a week before the final exam.

Content (topics)

  • Introduction to health economics
  • Microeconomics applied to health and health care:
    • Microeconomics tools for health system analysis
    • Markets and market failure
    • Uncertainty, risk and health insurance
    • Welfare economics
  • Health care systems:
    • Health care financing
    • Equity and efficiency in health care provision
    • Overview of the Australian health care system (incl. funding, purchasing and providing roles, commonwealth and state roles)
    • International comparison
  • The role and value of health technology assessment:
    • Decision making and resource allocation in Australia and internationally
    • HTA, types of economic evaluations
    • Interpretation, presentation and use of economic evaluation
    • Product life cycle and early HTA
  • Methods for health technology assessment:
    • Measuring health benefits
    • Measuring costs
    • Economic modelling
    • Dealing with uncertainty

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Written home assignments (Individual)*

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

1

Weight: 25%
Criteria:

*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero.

Assessment task 2: HTA consultancy project (individual)

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

4

Weight: 30%

Assessment task 3: Final Exam (Individual)

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2, 3 and 4

Weight: 45%

Recommended texts

Morris S, Devlin N, Parkin D and Spencer A (2012) Economic Analysis in Health Care, Second Edition, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Lecture notes will be available on Canvas for each topic. Additional readings will be made available via Canvas.

Other resources

UTS Student Centre
Building 10

Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)

Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts

For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.

UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.

Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.

HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.

Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.

The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for managing your studies alongside your health condition. If you’re unsure whether you need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early and we can provide advice on how our service can assist you. Make an appointment with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or Accessibility@uts.edu.au.

The Financial Assistance Service can assist you with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514 1177 or Financial.assistance@uts.edu.au.