Globally, the world is moving towards Universal Health Coverage, a concept built around the practical attainment of the basic human rights of health for all. At the most basic level, a Healthcare System is the organization of both human and monetary resources, institutions, and service delivery outlets in order to meet the health needs of a population. These systems come in a variety of models that are influenced by the economic context, the values upon which the system is built and guided, and the socio-cultural context at the national and local levels. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the different models of Health Systems and Service Delivery Organization employed in various contexts around the world as a means of providing a holistic and balanced understanding of how health systems can and do function in different contexts.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Analyze and examine the key components that constitute health care systems.
2. Assess, organize, and propose adaptations and alterations to healthcare system design and/or maintenance at a policy level.
3. Analyze and evaluate indicators of healthcare system performance.

Course Schedule and Topics

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time).

Week 1: Unit 1 – Overview of Health Systems & Health Financing

Week 2: Unit 2 – Health Care Models: National Health Insurance & the influence of the Beveridge Report

Week 3: Unit 3 – Health Care Models: Bismarck & Social Insurance Models

Week 4: Unit 4 – Health Care Models: Market-Driven Healthcare & Out of Pocket Payments

Week 5: Unit 5 – The Affordable Care Act – USA

Week 6: Unit 6 – Health Care Systems in Transition
Week 7: Unit 7 – Health Care Systems and Equity

Week 8: Unit 8 – Evaluation of Health Care Systems to Global Targets/ SDGs

Week 9: Unit 9 –  Course Review & Final Exam

Learning Guide

The following is an outline of how this course will be conducted, with suggested best practices for students.

Unit 1: Overview of Health Systems & Health Financing

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 2: Health Care Models: National Health Insurance & the influence of the Beveridge Report

• Peer assess Unit 1 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 3: Health Care Models: Bismarck & Social Insurance Models

• Peer assess Unit 2 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 4: Health Care Models: Market-Driven Healthcare & Out of Pocket Payments

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 5: The Affordable Care Act – USA

• Peer assess Unit 4 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete and submit the Written Assignment
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 6: Health Care Systems in Transition

• Peer assess Unit 5 Written Assignment
• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Take the Graded Quiz

Unit 7: Health Care Systems and Equity

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz

Unit 8: Evaluation of Health Care Systems to Global Targets/ SDGs

• Read the Learning Guide and Reading Assignments
• Participate in the Discussion Assignment (post, comment, and rate in the Discussion Forum)
• Complete an entry in the Learning Journal
• Take the Self-Quiz
• Complete and submit the anonymous Course Evaluation
• Read the Unit 9 Learning Guide carefully for instructions on the Final Exam
• Take the Review Quiz

Unit 9: Course Review and Final Exam

• Read the Learning Guide and take the Review Quiz, if you haven’t already done so
• Prepare for, take, and submit the Final Exam
• The Final Exam will take place during the Thursday and Sunday of Week/Unit 9 (UoPeople time); exact dates, times, and other details will be provided accordingly by your instructor