HPOL5000: Semester 1, 2022

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Units HPOL5000 Semester 1 2022 [Online]

Unit of study_

HPOL5000: Health Policy and Health Economics

Semester 1, 2022 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit aims to develop a critical and comparative understanding of the history, theory and practice of health policy as well as provide students with an understanding of the main concepts and analytical methods of health economics and political economy. It gives an overview of the political choices and frameworks that shape decision making in health. By the end of this unit students will be able to: Define the boundaries and key features of health policy; Identify policy instruments and how they function; Understand the main frameworks used for analysing health policy, and different approaches and perspectives regarding setting priorities in health policy; Apply methods and principles of health economics e.g. resource scarcity, opportunity cost, efficiency and equity to practical real-life examples; Critically analyse the role of economic evidence in informing policy decisions in health decision-making in Australia.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	HPOL5000
Academic unit	Public Health
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	PUBH5032
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Anne Marie Thow, annemarie.thow@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Alison Pearce, alison.pearce@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Anne Marie Thow, annemarie.thow@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Assignment 3 Written assessments	40%	Formal exam period	400-500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Assignment 1 Participation	30%	Multiple weeks	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Assignment 2 Online quiz	30%	Week 08	35 minutes to answer 23 questions
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined in marking rubrics for individual assessments.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date: Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	This week we will be looking at the importance of priority setting in health policy making, and nature and role of health economics evidence. We asked you to complete a short priority setting activity as part of the Getting Started section of this unit	Lecture (10 hr)
Week 02	This week we focus on health policy – how policy agendas are set, decisions are made, and implementation happens. We will examine the boundaries and key features of health policy, policy instruments, and strategies for communicating with health policy makers. There will be options for Online Mode students to participate in workshop activities and/or undertake activities asynchronously.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 03	This week we reflect on the learnings on health policy over the past few weeks, listen to additional lectures, and apply these learnings through the tutorial discussion. These theories will be important in analysing specific health policy issues in the later tutorials.	Lecture and tutorial (10 hr)
Week 04	This week's content is background to understanding the scope of health economics and to introduce you to market theory, in particular, why the market fails in health. These introductory lectures underpin much of the later health economics teaching in this course.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 05	This week’s content will introduce you to fundamental concepts underpinning health economics such as resource scarcity and opportunity cost. We will also look at the use of incentives, efficiency and equity as applied to practical real-life examples in healthcare. There will be options for Online Mode students to participate in workshop activities and/or undertake activities asynchronously.	Online class (10 hr)
Week 06	This week there will be a compulsory health economics tutorial, in which you will do hands on calculation of cost-effectiveness ratios and explore equity considerations in healthcare. Online students will be able to access the recordings of the health economics workshop from last week.	Lecture and tutorial (10 hr)
Week 07	This week offers an opportunity to revise for the on-line quiz which is 30% of your grade. Make sure you are familiar with the course content and take the practice quiz to familiarise yourself with the type of questions. You may do the practice quiz as many times as you like.	Independent study (10 hr)
Week 08	This week you need to take the assessable online multi choice quiz.	Independent study (10 hr)
Week 09	This week’s tutorial brings together health economic evidence and policy in the reimbursement of medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Schedule.	Lecture and tutorial (10 hr)
Week 10	This week’s tutorial will look at the case study of HPV vaccination in Australia, decisions around the world to provide the vaccine, and flow on effect to cervical screening programmes in Australia.	Lecture and tutorial (10 hr)
Week 11	This week's tutorial will focus on designing effective policy, drawing on case studies of alcohol and other drug policy.	Lecture and tutorial (10 hr)
Week 12	This week's tutorial will introduce you to the idea of disinvestment in an Australian healthcare context. We will explore the process and politics of disinvestment with reference to contemporary case studies in Australia.	Lecture and tutorial (10 hr)
Week 13	This week offers an opportunity to review the course material, including through the online synthesis lectures, and to work on your final assessment.	Independent study (10 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Block Mode students are expected to attend the intensive workshops and engage in online activities, as well as attend the face-to-face tutorials.

Block mode – Remote students are expected to join the intensive workshops online and engage in online activities, as well as participate in face to face tutorials held online.

Online students are expected to engage in the online activities and materials, and actively participate in the online tutorial discussions.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. define the boundaries and key features of health policy
LO2. identify policy instruments and how they function
LO3. understand the main frameworks used for analysing health policy, and different approaches and perspectives regarding setting priorities in health policy
LO4. apply methods and principles of health economics e.g. resource scarcity, incentives, opportunity cost, efficiency, and equity to practical real-life examples
LO5. (critically) review the role of economic evidence in informing policy decisions in healthcare in Australia.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

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