Overview

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This specialization is intended for people interested in health systems and how they function. Participants will learn about the global health systems landscape and the challenges and opportunities to achieve better health outcomes. This specialisation is divided into three courses which are offered as massive online open access courses (Courses 1-3), and a fourth course which is offered as part of the Online MPH degree (capstone). The Health Systems Development specialisation is geared toward learners who have no prior knowledge of health systems or those who are starting to explore this area of study. Overall, sessions in this specialisation span 16 week with approximately 96 hours of viewing learning materials per week. Formative assessments in the form of quizzes and activities are incorporated throughout the weeks to help learners gauge their level of depth of understanding and to prepare them for their summative assessments. Participants will have the opportunity to explore a range of areas within health systems. The first course will introduce the main building blocks of health systems and shed some light on key components of well-functioning health systems including how health system performance is assessed. In course two, students will learn how to conduct a health impact assessment and how to assess the impacts of policies, plans and projects, as well as how that support decision-makers make choices regarding alternatives and improvements to prevent disease or injury and to actively promote health. The third course explores human resources for health and service delivery. In this course, students will learn about and analyse country experiences in transforming health services delivery, and interventions and to address human resources for health challenges at a global level. By the end of this specialisation, learners should be able to identify key components of, and critically compare, different health systems; analyse country experiences in transforming services; and apply theoretical framework for assessing the health impacts of policies, plans and projects.

Syllabus

Health Impact Assessment

This week you will learn about health impact assessment, what that means in terms of assessing the health impacts of policies, plans and projects, and how that helps decision-makers make choices about alternatives and improvements to prevent disease or injury and to actively promote health.

Health Impact Assessment Exercise

This week you have the opportunity reflect on what you've learned earlier, particularly the enablers and barriers faced by public health specialists when conducting a health impact assessment, as you apply a theoretical framework for assessing the health impacts of policies, plans, and projects and design a health impact assessment based on provided data.

What is health systems policy and research?

This week you will focus on how health systems can, and need to be, be resilient to adapt to the changing health landscape. Attention will be on the role of health policy and systems research to tackle these issues.

The role of health policy and systems research in global health

This week the focus will be on your potential perspective roles as future health systems researchers and how you can influence change. You will have the opportunity to discuss the relevance and importance of health policy and system research in informed decision making and reflect on your role and responsibility as a public health specialist/ health systems researcher.