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Unit of study_
HPOL5014: Foundations of Health Technology Assessment
2025 unit information
We need to ensure that the health care technologies and services used within the health system are safe, effective, and cost-effective. Policy and funding decisions based on these principles use the multidisciplinary approach of health technology assessment, which brings together methods from clinical epidemiology and health economics. This unit covers the foundational aspects of the assessment and re-assessment of health technologies and services (including medicines, medical devices, and medical tests) and techniques to support investment and disinvestment decision-making by public payers and funders. Students will work through key concepts in health technology assessment as well as the key institutions and processes in Australia for regulating and managing the use of health technologies. Students will work through real world scenarios as case examples.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Academic unit | Public Health |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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Basic understanding of human physiology and the Australian health system |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. explain how decisions regarding the use and funding of health technology is organised in the health system, including sources of funding, process and governance arrangements, key stakeholders, and relevant policy levers
- LO2. identify and describe the types of technologies and services that can be the subject of health technology assessment, and their place in health care prevention, investigation, and treatment
- LO3. understand the role of health economic evaluations in investment decisions around health technology, including developing PICO questions, interpreting systematic reviews, and applying evidence from clinical and health economic studies
- LO4. understand the role of budget impact analysis for the implementation health technologies in the health system
- LO5. identify ethical, equity, and implementation considerations relevant to health technology assessment in Australia
- LO6. understand the nature and rationale for disinvestment decisions around health technology, and the role of clinical, economic, and real-world evidence in such considerations
- LO7. write an application for public funding for a treatment that uses a new health technology, identifying relevant contextual, clinical, economic, and financial information.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 2 2025
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Block mode | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Semester 2 2025
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Online | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
