Course Description
Comparative analysis of health systems of several Nordic and Baltic countries. Historical development of health systems of Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Estonia will be analyzed to understand the political economy of health reforms. For each country, the system-wide approach will be used to understand the healthcare resources and health outcomes.
Athena Title
Nordic & Baltic Health Systems
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Explain the different building blocks of a health system and how the building blocks interact among each other to create a well-functioning system 2. Describe and explain the political, social, and economic context of the countries which triggered health sector reforms 3. Analyze the effect of health sector reform on health outcomes, efficiency, and effectiveness of the system 4. Analyze and understand the health sector financing and effect of financing mechanism on degree of fair financing and equity in health outcomes 5. Analyze the recent changes in social and economic environment and the effects of the changes on health sector 6. Compare the health systems of the countries to identify the best practices to improve health sector outcomes
Topical Outline
1. Health system components as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) 2. Importance of adopting system-wide approach for understanding the effectiveness and efficiency of the health systems 3. Historical development of health system of Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Estonia 4. Healthcare financing and effect of financing mechanism on fair financing f health system and out-of-pocket expenses 5. Recent health sector reforms in Nordic and Baltic countries and consequences of the policy changes on healthcare access, quality, safety, and health outcomes 6. International comparison of health systems of Nordic and Baltic countries and lessons learned