PHPB 7640 - Comparative Health Systems

3 Credit Hours
Prerequisites: PHPB 7160 or instructor approval.
Description
This course will explore from an international comparative perspective the challenges in the U.S. health care system in providing adequate access to medical services for all, the control of rising health care costs, and the assurance that the quality of health care services is high and improving. The textbook, readings, lectures and class discussions will focus on the organization and financing of health systems in wealthy nations. It explores the market and regulatory policy options being debated politically in the U.S. to solve these problems and compares possible foreign models for reform including those offered by the Canadian, British, Japanese, Swiss, and German systems. In spite of differences in the organization and financing of their health care systems, most countries share a number of common problems with the U. S. From this perspective, the course also will discuss the health systems of example countries from all WHO Regions, including Brazil, Nigeria, China, India, Russia, and Israel as well as several small countries with innovative approaches (e.g. Singapore, Taiwan, The Netherlands, and Cuba). In these discussions, the class will explore social determinants of health, innovation and sustainability, the role and contributions of non-governmental organizations, health systems in crisis and disaster, and common global challenges.