Description
The specialisation focuses on theories, concepts and tools of the sciences of economics, management and health policy in order to systematically and comparatively study the market of health services and health systems. Emphasis is placed on health policies, on the investigation of factors related to the demand and supply of health services as well as on the mechanisms and patterns of financing – reimbursement of health services. Strategic planning , the organisation of health care facilities, human resource management policies and medical technology management policies are themes that make a decisive contribution to rational decision-making and the allocation of scarce health resources.
Curriculum
| 1st semester | |
| Courses | ECTS |
| Health Economics | 6 |
| Health Policy and Strategic Planning | 6 |
| International Institutions of Health Policies | 6 |
| Health Services Research Methodology | 6 |
| Bioethics & Health Law | 6 |
| Semester Total | 30 |
| 2nd semester | |
| Courses | ECTS |
| Organisation & Management of Health Services | 6 |
| Public Health Policies | 6 |
| Health Technology Assessment & Decision Making | 6 |
| Analysis of Health Policies & Reforms | 6 |
| Financial Management of Health Services | 6 |
| Semester Total | 30 |
| 3rd semester | |
| Diploma Thesis | 30 |
Course analysis
WINTER SEMESTER
- Health Economics (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The aim of this course is to equip students with specialized skills to understand and analyse (a) topics related to economics, the market for health services and the identification of health needs, (b) terms and theoretical approaches in the field of health economics, (c) issues related to the allocation of health resources in social and humanitarian terms. Particular emphasis is placed on the investigation and the specificities of the market (demand and supply of health services, health needs analysis, health service utilisation) and their contribution to decision-making and health policy formulation.
- Health Policy and Strategic Planning (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The course introduces students to the basic concepts of health and health services, and identifies and analyses the individual factors that influence the priorities and orientation of health policy. In particular, it examines the relationship between needs and health services, financing paradigms, as well as the international and Greek experience in the organisation and operation of health systems. The role of international organisations and the supranational health policy framework are also analysed, as well as the ‘Health in All Policies’ (HiAP) approach, in the light of the pressures exerted by phenomena such as climate change, migration, demographic trends and extraordinary threats such as the pandemic crisis. The course is structured in the following teaching units: 1) conceptual definitions: health, health services, health policy (fundamental principles and decision-making processes); 2) global health, international organizations and health diplomacy; 3) health systems and paradigms for the organization and financing of health services; 4) health policy in Greece: analysis and evaluation of the institutional framework and its evolution; 5) patient-centeredness and quality in health services.
- International Health Policy Institutions (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The course introduces students to the basic elements of international law in relation to national law as well as to the main features of European Union law with emphasis on institutions, operation, fundamental freedoms. Emphasis is placed on international health and European Union policies. Topics focus on a) health and the Right to Health with an analysis of concepts and presentation of international conventions for the protection of relevant rights, b) international health law, c) health policy in the European Union and highlighting/commenting on international health policies and d) the impact of health protection on other European Union policies as well as related court cases brought before the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
- Health Services Research Methodology (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The course is designed so as to familiarise students with scientific research methods in order to enable them to write all kinds of academic texts (university assignments, theses / dissertations, scientific articles, etc.). Special emphasis is placed on quantitative and qualitative research in the field of health. In particular, the topics of quantitative research include sampling and sample size, types of variables, descriptive and inferential statistics techniques and their application through the statistical software SPSS. The aim of the topics of qualitative social research methods is to present a range of relatively recent research projects in different disciplines of social sciences, from anthropogeography, sociology and social anthropology to political science and social psychology. It includes issues related to the theoretical and epistemological background of qualitative methodological approaches, issues related to reflection on research, multi-methodological considerations, the application of different qualitative methods for data collection as well as issues related to qualitative data analysis and the use of specific software for this purpose.
- Bioethics & Health Law (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The course introduces participants to the rules that regulate the practice of medicine, with special reference to the bioethical aspects and dilemmas that arise in medical practice. The course focuses on the specific regulations contained in the code of medical ethics and their institutional function in the context of the relationship between doctors and patients. Particular emphasis is placed on the nature and function of medical ethics, patient rights, patient information and consent, and medical confidentiality. More specifically, through the analysis of examples (case studies), derived from court decisions (case law), the student will come into contact with ethical dilemmas and ethical parameters of contemporary public health issues (e.g. artificial insemination, assisted reproduction, euthanasia, organ donation, self-determination and minor patients, etc. and will become familiar with their critical approach and management, based on the principle of proportionality, applying basic legal principles of the current institutional framework. In this light, issues of medical malpractice and criminal liability of physicians, issues of patient self-determination, issues of professional confidentiality, and purely practical issues that arise and that health professionals are called upon to manage in their daily work will be examined. In addition, a special section is devoted to issues of bioethics and health law related to minors.
SPRING SEMESTER
- Organisation & Management of Health Services (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The course aims to introduce students to issues related to the social and economic dimensions of health service delivery and to highlight the important role of the field of administration/management in the constantly changing environment of the health care system. The main objective of the course is the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the use of the tools of management science, which, in combination with those of economic analysis, contribute to policy formulation and decision-making. In particular, topics focus on total quality management in health services, strategic management and reform models as well as change management. The lectures employ theoretical, empirical, qualitative and quantitative approaches and seek to link theory with practice in the field of health care management, with an emphasis on the Greek reality. Management models, techniques and case studies on specific topics such as crisis management, total quality management, etc. are also presented.
- Public Health Policies (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
This course provides students with the knowledge on the basic principles of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Education. The concepts of prevalence, incidence indicators, morbidity, fatality, mortality rates as well as confounding factors in an epidemiological study are analysed. Reference is made to the quality of epidemiological data and studies as well as to the way they are applied on a population-community scale. Particular emphasis is placed on the policies and innovative actions implemented in the field of public health and health education and in the field of policies for the sound management of medicines and antibiotics. In addition, the course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for epidemiological research, interpretation of epidemiological data, evaluation of health care and implementation of prevention interventions. Students are given the opportunity to analyse and evaluate global public health challenges and develop a critical approach to the health care system and policy levers that can be used to improve health outcomes.
- Health Technology Assessment & Decision-Making (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The aim of the course is to equip students with specialized skills in order to understand and analyse (a) issues related to the social and economic dimensions of health and health care
(b) terms and theoretical approaches in the field of health economics and health technology assessment (HTA)
(c) problems related to the implementation of HTA and the institutional role of relevant organisations internationally.
Studies are presented and commented upon with regard to the purpose and methodology of the research and their results are analysed with regard to their contribution to decision-making and health policy formulation.
- Analysis of Health Policies & Reforms (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The course, through stand-alone lectures, delves into specific health policy issues and analyses sectoral reforms and interventions in the health system. Specifically, the course, using and analysing research findings, examines: 1) population literacy and health behaviours of the population and interventions for the empowerment of the citizen-patient in the health system; 2) the issue of patient access and management in the health system, health system standardization and reforms in primary health care; 3) the structure, organization and operation of health systems in Greece and internationally and the analysis of specific good practices; 4) the issue of financing and reimbursement of health care, with a focus on new technologies and the pressures of related research on social and family budgets; and 5) citizens’ views on health reforms, institutional trust and social capital.
- Financial Management of Health Services (Compulsory: C)
COURSE CONTENT
The aim of the course is to provide students with the necessary knowledge to understand the broad context of financial management of health care facilities as well as the specificities that govern them. Emphasis is placed on the tools and techniques of financial management of hospitals and health care units in general, which contribute to the achievement of efficiency and effectiveness, the control of endogenous and exogenous challenges, the qualitative and quantitative upgrading of services provided through interventions and investments within the framework of budgetary constraints. The lectures cover a wide range of topics, including information on the health care system and evolving reimbursement methods, accounting and revenue and billing management. Also discussed are concepts and procedures related to billing and costing of services, the time value of money and major capital financing in health care, the use of aggregate as well as specific financial data in decision making and their contribution to rational budget preparation and execution, performance measurement and evaluation of provided health care services.
