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Unit outline_

HPOL5000: Health Policy and Health Economics

Semester 1, 2023 [Block mode] - Remote

This unit aims to develop a critical and comparative understanding of the history, theory and practice of health policy as well as provide students with an understanding of the main concepts and analytical methods of health economics and political economy. It gives an overview of the political choices and frameworks that shape decision making in health. By the end of this unit students will be able to: Define the boundaries and key features of health policy; Identify policy instruments and how they function; Understand the main frameworks used for analysing health policy, and different approaches and perspectives regarding setting priorities in health policy; Apply methods and principles of health economics e.g. resource scarcity, opportunity cost, efficiency and equity to practical real-life examples; Critically analyse the role of economic evidence in informing policy decisions in health decision-making in Australia.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
PUBH5032
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Alison Pearce, alison.pearce@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Anne Marie Thow, annemarie.thow@sydney.edu.au
Alison Pearce, alison.pearce@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Assignment 3
Written assessments
40% Formal exam period
Due date: 09 Jun 2023 at 23:59
400-500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO5
Participation Assignment 1
Participation
30% Multiple weeks n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2
Online task Assignment 2
Online quiz
30% Week 08
Due date: 20 Apr 2023 at 23:59
35 minutes to answer 23 questions
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO2

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date: Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 This week we will be looking at the importance of priority setting in health policy making, and nature and role of health economics evidence. We asked you to complete a short priority setting activity as part of the Getting Started section of this unit Lecture (10 hr) LO1 LO4
Week 02 This week we focus on health policy – how policy agendas are set, decisions are made, and implementation happens. We will examine the boundaries and key features of health policy, policy instruments, and strategies for communicating with health policy makers. Block Mode students will attend the workshop. Workshop (10 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 This week we reflect on the learnings on health policy over the past few weeks, and apply them to our own experience and knowledge through the tutorial discussion. These theories will be important in analysing specific health policy issues in the later tutorials. Tutorial (10 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 This week's content is background to understanding the scope of health economics and to introduce you to market theory, in particular, why the market fails in health. These introductory lectures underpin much of the later health economics teaching in this course. Online class (10 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 05 This week’s content will introduce you to fundamental concepts underpinning health economics such as resource scarcity and opportunity cost. We will also look at the use of incentives, efficiency and equity as applied to practical real-life examples in healthcare. This week students enrolled in Block Mode will be attending the workshop. Workshop (10 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 06 This week there will be a compulsory health economics tutorial, in which you will do hands on calculation of cost-effectiveness ratios and explore equity considerations in healthcare. Tutorial (10 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 07 This week offers an opportunity to revise for the on-line quiz which is 30% of your grade. Make sure you are familiar with the course content and take the practice quiz to familiarise yourself with the type of questions. You may do the practice quiz as many times as you like. Independent study (10 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 This week you need to take the assessable online multi choice quiz. Independent study (10 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 This week’s tutorial brings together health economic evidence and policy in the reimbursement of medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule. Lecture and tutorial (10 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 10 This week’s tutorial will look at the case study of HPV vaccination in Australia, decisions around the world to provide the vaccine, and flow on effect to cervical screening programmes in Australia. Lecture and tutorial (10 hr) LO3 LO5
Week 11 This week's tutorial will focus on designing effective policy, drawing on case studies of alcohol and other drug policy. Lecture and tutorial (10 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 12 This week's tutorial will introduce you to the idea of disinvestment in an Australian healthcare context. We will explore the process and politics of disinvestment with reference to contemporary case studies in Australia. Lecture and tutorial (10 hr) LO3 LO4
Week 13 This week offers an opportunity to review the course material, including through the online synthesis lectures, and to work on your final assessment. Independent study (10 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Block Mode students are expected to attend the intensive workshops and engage in online activities, as well as attend the face-to-face tutorials.

Block mode – Remote students are expected to join the intensive workshops online or engage in the online activities and materials, and actively participate in the online tutorial discussions.

Online students are expected to engage in the online activities and materials, and actively participate in the online tutorial discussions.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. define the boundaries and key features of health policy
  • LO2. identify policy instruments and how they function
  • LO3. understand the main frameworks used for analysing health policy, and different approaches and perspectives regarding setting priorities in health policy
  • LO4. apply methods and principles of health economics e.g. resource scarcity, incentives, opportunity cost, efficiency, and equity to practical real-life examples
  • LO5. (critically) review the role of economic evidence in informing policy decisions in healthcare in Australia.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

More information can be found on Canvas. 

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.