OVERVIEW

This course provides advanced economics concepts to the central issues in health economics and health policy.

The course is intended to ensure that students have command of the main tools used in public economic analysis.

In particular students will improve their understanding of and skills in the “wide” field of health economics: health policy, pharmaceutical economics and policy, health care programs, economic evaluation, health care market regulation.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course provides advanced economics concepts to analyze the central issues in health economics and health policy. The course is intended to ensure that students have command of the main tools used in public economic analysis. Students are introduced to economics of information and to “mathematical modes of analysis” and provided with sufficient command of such analysis to enable them to undertake advanced theoretical and empirical work in the areas of health and public economics. In particular students will improve their understanding of and skills in the “wide” field of health economics: health policy, pharmaceutical economics and policy, health care programs, economic evaluation, health care market regulation. As part of the course there is the laboratory of health Economics. The laboratory aims at using a data-driven approach to objectively prioritize policy choices in the field of health economics. By the use of Stata software, the laboratory will show how to exploit large-scale datasets and advanced economic and econometric techniques to identify the most effective and fair policy actions to govern ageing societies (e.g. selection of value for money technologies; new drugs distribution channels; strengthening of territorial medicine; management paths of chronic conditions; visits and exams with extended hours and on weekends; telemedicine).

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

•  In-depth knowledge of economic theory and evaluation models applied to health programmes
•  Understanding health care market and the role played by uncertainty and asymmetric information
•  Apply theoretical economic analysis to evaluate public and private policies
•  Effectively synthesize evidence to inform key stakeholders including industry, regulators, and policy makers
•  Analyze the structure and functions of Italian and international health care systems, focusing on finance and delivery
•  Ability to design, conduct and critically interpret health assessment (Health Technology Assessment)

An in-depth understanding of key economic issues of the healthcare sector
An in-depth understanding of different reimbursement systems in healthcare in terms of their efficiency and incentives.
Insights of health inequalities and social determinants of health.
Critical understanding of economics principles and concepts applied to healthcare and health policy.
Skills in the empirical analysis of observational data sets to determine cost-effectiveness of programmes, interpret results from econometric analysis and also apply statistical techniques to economic evaluation.

PREREQUISITES

None

TEACHING METHODS

Face to face lectures mixed up with laboratory sessions. As part of the course there is the laboratory of Health Economics. The laboratory aims at using a data-driven approach to objectively prioritize policy choices in the field of health economics. By the use of Stata software, the laboratory will show how to exploit large-scale datasets and advanced economic and econometric techniques to identify the most effective and fair policy actions to govern ageing societies (e.g. selection of value for money technologies; new drugs distribution channels; strengthening of territorial medicine; management paths of chronic conditions; visits and exams with extended hours and on weekends; telemedicine).

Students with disabilities, SLD or SEN

Students with disabilities, with SLD or with SEN are reminded that, to request exam accommodations, they must first upload their certification to the University website at servizionline.unige.it <https://servizionline.unige.it/>, in the “Students” section. The documentation will be checked by the University’s Services for the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and with SLD.

At the beginning of the course, students are advised to contact the lecturer to agree on exam arrangements which, while respecting the learning objectives of the course, take individual learning needs into account.

To request compensatory tools or dispensatory measures, students with disabilities or SLD must fill in the dedicated Webform available athttps://unige.it/disabilita-dsa, at least 7 working days before the exam.

Students with SEN may instead send their request by e-mail to the lecturer, copying the Department Representative, Prof. Elena Lagomarsino, at inclusione.economia@unige.it<mailto:inclusione.economia@unige.it>, and the Inclusion Office at   inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it <mailto:inclusione.studenti@info.unige.it>.

Requests from students will be assessed by the lecturer and may be approved or rejected.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Health economics: general principles and theoretical approach
Information asymmetry in the health care market: adverse selection and moral hazard, incomplete contracts, incentives, uncertainty and risk
Economic analysis of health care services and insurance systems
Insurance markets - Government purchasing of health services - Ownership (for profit-not for profit) and hospital behavior
Pharmaceutical economics and policy, the pharmaceutical industry
Equity in health
Health Technology Assessment and Health Related quality of life
Methods for economic evaluation of health sector and health policies.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Handouts, slides, exercises and any other material to support the lectures will be made available by AulaWeb

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

September 2024

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

An important element of the course is the two (written) intermediate tests that form the continuous assessment element, one in the middle and one at the end of the course. They will also provide feedback on the development of the student's understanding.
Alternatively, students are assessed by a written/oral final examinations.
Attendance to the course is not required and there is no difference between attending and nonattending students.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The intermediate test will check and assess  students' knowledge of main topics and tecnicalities.  Multiple choice questions  will check  technicalities and specific contents. Open questions will check students' critical skills and  their ability to elaborate  logically the topics taught in the course. Team working will check student's critical and dialectical skills