Introduction

Health policy analysis is essential for understanding how healthcare systems operate, evolve, and respond to societal needs. This process involves assessing current policies, predicting future outcomes, and developing strategies to address challenges in healthcare delivery, finance, and access. With rapid changes in healthcare needs and the rise of new health technologies, effective policy analysis is critical for shaping sustainable, equitable, and efficient health systems.

This five-day training course provides participants with the tools and methodologies needed to analyze health policies, understand their impact, and provide actionable recommendations. Participants will be exposed to policy frameworks, economic evaluation techniques, and global case studies to help them make informed policy decisions.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the fundamentals of health policy analysis and its significance
• Analyze the economic, political, and social implications of healthcare policies
• Develop strategies for evaluating the effectiveness and impact of policies
• Utilize policy analysis tools and frameworks to assess healthcare systems
• Conduct cost-effectiveness analysis and apply health economics principles
• Understand the role of health equity and social determinants of health in policy-making
• Stay informed on current trends and future directions in global health policy
• Provide evidence-based policy recommendations for healthcare systems

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Healthcare policy analysts and consultants
• Government and public health officials
• Healthcare administrators and managers
• Healthcare economists and health planners
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) focused on health advocacy
• Academics and researchers in healthcare and public health fields
• Health system professionals aiming to influence policy change

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Health Policy and Policy Analysis

Understanding Health Policy and Its Importance

• Defining health policy: goals, principles, and challenges
• The policy-making process: from problem identification to evaluation
• Key stakeholders in health policy: government, private sector, NGOs, patients, and providers
• Case study: How policy decisions shaped healthcare reform

Frameworks for Health Policy Analysis

• Introducing policy analysis frameworks (SWOT, PESTLE, and the Policy Triangle)
• Defining healthcare system functions and policy levers
• Understanding institutional structures and their role in health policy
• Case study: Comparing health systems in OECD countries

Workshop: Policy Analysis Framework Application

• Participants will apply SWOT analysis to a real-world health policy scenario

Day 2: Policy Tools and Economic Evaluations

Key Tools for Health Policy Analysis

• The role of data and evidence in policy decisions
• Conducting needs assessments and health system audits
• Impact analysis: What are the expected outcomes?
• Cost-effectiveness analysis vs. cost-benefit analysis in policy decisions
• Case study: Assessing the impact of insurance policy reforms on access to care

Health Economics in Policy Analysis

• Basic concepts in health economics: demand, supply, and market failures
• Economic evaluation methods: cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and cost-benefit analysis
• Understanding economic burden of disease and healthcare financing
• Case study: Evaluating the economic impact of telemedicine in rural healthcare

Workshop: Conducting a Basic Economic Evaluation

• Participants will apply economic evaluation methods to a health policy scenario

Day 3: Health Equity and Social Determinants in Policy

Understanding Health Equity

• Defining health equity vs. healthcare equality
• The role of social determinants of health: income, education, housing, and environment
• Addressing health disparities in policy decisions
• Case study: Policy initiatives to address health disparities in underserved communities

Incorporating Equity into Policy Analysis

• Designing equity-focused health policies
• The role of public health data in identifying vulnerable populations
• Policy solutions for addressing health disparities: universal health coverage, access to care
• Case study: Examining successful global health equity policies

Workshop: Equity and Social Determinants in Health Policy

• Participants will develop a policy recommendation with a focus on equity and social determinants

Day 4: Global Health Policy and Comparative Analysis

Global Health Policy Trends

• Understanding the global landscape of health policy: WHO, UN, global health organizations
• The role of international law and diplomacy in health policy
• Addressing global health challenges: pandemics, maternal health, vaccine distribution, non-communicable diseases
• Case study: Global health policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

Comparative Health Policy Analysis

• Comparing healthcare systems: single-payer vs. multi-payer, public vs. private, universal coverage
• The role of health system performance measures: quality, efficiency, accessibility
• Evaluating health policy in low- and middle-income countries
• Case study: Comparing healthcare systems in Canada, the US, and the UK

Workshop: Comparative Health Policy Evaluation

• Participants will evaluate and compare two different health systems based on global benchmarks

Day 5: Policy Implementation, Advocacy, and Future Challenges

Implementing Health Policies

• The process of policy implementation: from theory to practice
• Managing political, administrative, and financial challenges in policy adoption
• The role of public health campaigns and media in policy promotion
• Case study: Implementing mental health policies in diverse healthcare systems

Advocacy and Policy Change

• Strategies for advocating for policy change at local, national, and international levels
• The role of stakeholders and interest groups in policy advocacy
• How to use policy briefs, reports, and presentations for influencing decision-makers
• Case study: How advocacy groups influenced tobacco control policies

Workshop: Crafting a Health Policy Proposal

• Participants will design a policy brief addressing a contemporary health issue and advocate for a specific policy change

Closing Session and Certification

• Key takeaways from the course
• Awarding of Certification of Completion