Introduction to Health Economics and Healthcare Policy

Healthcare systems worldwide face the critical challenge of balancing rising costs with the need for high-quality, accessible care. Understanding the economic forces behind these challenges is essential for anyone looking to make an impact in healthcare administration, policy, or public health. This text-based course guides you through the foundational concepts of health economics, enabling you to analyze healthcare markets, policy interventions, and resource allocation. By reading our structured explanations and working through practical written scenarios, you will develop the analytical tools needed to evaluate healthcare systems and policy decisions from an economic perspective. In this course, you will: 1. Understand foundational economic principles applied specifically to health and healthcare markets. 2. Analyze the demand for health and healthcare, including the role of health insurance and moral hazard. 3. Evaluate the supply side of healthcare, including hospital behavior and pharmaceutical pricing. 4. Compare different global healthcare systems and financing models. 5. Apply Health Technology Assessment frameworks to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of new treatments. 6. Assess the economic impact of modern digital health interventions and value-based care models. The course begins with key terminology and foundational definitions before moving into market structures, insurance mechanisms, and policy evaluation. You will progress from basic microeconomic concepts to analyzing complex global healthcare systems and contemporary health technologies. This course is designed for beginners, healthcare professionals, policy enthusiasts, and students with no prior background in economics or finance. Start reading today to master the economic principles that drive modern healthcare decision-making.