Introduction

Healthcare systems and policies form the backbone of how healthcare services are delivered, funded, and regulated. The constantly evolving global health challenges, coupled with the growing demand for accessible, equitable, and high-quality healthcare, make it imperative for healthcare professionals and policymakers to understand the complexities of healthcare systems and policies.

This five-day course provides an in-depth exploration of healthcare systems, global health policies, comparative healthcare models, and the impact of political, economic, and social factors on healthcare delivery. Participants will explore the structure, financing, and policy frameworks of healthcare systems across different regions, as well as emerging global health trends and policy innovations.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

• Gain an understanding of different healthcare systems and policy models worldwide
• Analyze the role of health policy in shaping healthcare access, quality, and costs
• Develop the skills to evaluate and design healthcare policies
• Understand the financing mechanisms for healthcare systems (insurance models, government funding, etc.)
• Explore emerging global health issues and how policies address them
• Be equipped with strategies to navigate healthcare reform and transformation in a dynamic political environment

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for professionals involved in healthcare policy, management, and reform, including:

• Healthcare policymakers and regulators
• Healthcare administrators and managers
• Public health professionals and consultants
• Researchers and analysts in health systems and policy
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international health experts
• Healthcare economists and financial managers
• Healthcare professionals seeking to understand the policy landscape
• Students and academics in healthcare management and public health

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Healthcare Systems

Understanding Healthcare Systems and Structures

• The components of a healthcare system (e.g., providers, insurers, payers)
• Types of healthcare systems (public, private, mixed models)
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary care systems
• Health outcomes and system performance metrics (life expectancy, infant mortality, etc.)
• Case Study: Comparing healthcare systems in the U.S., UK, Canada, and Germany

Healthcare Financing

• Government-funded healthcare (Single-payer vs. multi-payer systems)
• Private health insurance and managed care
• Out-of-pocket payments and financial barriers to access
• Universal health coverage: Theory vs. practice
• Workshop: Evaluating the financial sustainability of a healthcare system

Day 2: Healthcare Policy and Governance

Role of Government in Healthcare Policy

• Policy frameworks: Regulatory, financial, and organizational oversight
• The political economy of health: How politics shapes healthcare policy
• National Health Service (NHS) and other governmental models of healthcare delivery
• Case Study: Impact of the Affordable Care Act on U.S. healthcare policy

Healthcare Policy Development

• Process of policy formulation and evaluation
• Stakeholders in healthcare policy (patients, providers, insurance companies, policymakers)
• Health policy research and data-driven decision making
• Workshop: Creating a health policy proposal for a key challenge

Day 3: Comparative Health Systems and International Health Policy

Global Healthcare Systems

• The World Health Organization (WHO) and international health frameworks
• Comparing healthcare systems across continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America
• Challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and solutions for health equity
• Case Study: How Cuba’s healthcare system provides universal access

International Health Policy Issues

• Global health funding: The role of the World Bank, WHO, and NGOs
• Pandemic preparedness and response: Global policy coordination
• Health disparities in a global context and policy interventions
• Workshop: Designing an international health policy intervention

Day 4: Healthcare Reform and Policy Innovation

Healthcare Reform and Transformation

• The case for healthcare reform: Why and how systems change
• Reform models: Value-based care, managed care, and integrated care
• Public-private partnerships in healthcare
• Case Study: The impact of the National Health Insurance (NHI) model in South Korea

Emerging Healthcare Policy Innovations

• Telemedicine and digital health policies
• AI and automation in healthcare delivery: Policy implications
• Sustainability in healthcare: Addressing climate change in healthcare policy
• Workshop: Designing a policy framework for digital health integration

Day 5: Future Trends and Strategic Policy Planning

The Future of Healthcare Systems

• Aging populations and their impact on healthcare delivery
• Healthcare workforce shortages: Policy strategies and workforce development
• Global health trends: Emerging diseases, healthcare access, and equity
• Case Study: Impact of artificial intelligence on healthcare workforce and policy

Strategic Policy Planning

• Evaluating health policy effectiveness: Tools and frameworks
• Health policy advocacy and influencing decision-makers
• Healthcare policy in the context of economic downturns and austerity measures
• Final Workshop: Developing a strategic healthcare policy plan for a specific country or region

Closing Remarks and Certification Ceremony