EC4429 Health Economics

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

When confirmed, check online https://timetables.st-andrews.ac.uk/.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr T P Bui

Dr T P Bui
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Thanh Bui

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module covers important theory and empirical evidence in the field of Health Economics. It first provides an overview of how different countries organise their healthcare systems and main issues in the economics of healthcare. Students will then review the problems that emerge in healthcare insurance markets, including moral hazard in the use of health care services and ex-ante risk heterogeneity in consumers. Students will also study the different ways that health care providers can be paid and how this affects the effort, cost, and quality of treatment, as well as the effect of competition among healthcare providers on quality. Students will finally explore pharmaceutical markets and the economics of pandemics. This module places emphasis on developing analytical understanding of applied issues, while developing strong theoretical foundations. We will ultimately seek to draw useful policy conclusions for high-, low- and middle-income countries.

Relationship to other modules

Anti-requisites

YOU CANNOT TAKE THIS MODULE IF YOU PASS EC4403

Assessment pattern

50% = Coursework 50% = Written Exam

Re-assessment

Written Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

20 hours of lectures over 11 weeks, 1-hour tutorials (x 5 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

37

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

168

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • By the end of the module, students will be familiar with economic approaches to healthcare and health systems
  • By the end of the module, students will be able to discuss health policies from an economic perspective
  • By the end of the module, students will be able to appreciate and understand the evaluation of health policies and programmes
  • By the end of the module, students will be familiar with key issues in theoretical health economics