2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

NUFF5510M Introduction to Health Systems

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Francis Poitier
Email: F.Poitier@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Nov to 31 Dec View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

None

Pre-requisites

N/A

Co-requisites

N/A

This module is mutually exclusive with

N/A

Module replaces

NUFF5095M Health Systems and Programmes

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Health systems are an important element in improving a population's health. This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the key aspects of organisation, composition and strengthening of health systems in LMICs and to equip them with the ability to contextualise their knowledge to a particular country.

Objectives

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the key aspects of health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and to equip them with the ability to contextualise their knowledge to a particular country.

On completion of the module the students should be able to:
- describe and analyse different health systems and their responses to health problems
- have an understanding of the main trends in the development of health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries
- recognise and discuss individual elements of health systems, and appraise the complex inter-relationships between them
- describe and apply the main principles of health systems strengthening in the context of LMICs

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module the students should possess:
- knowledge of individual elements of health systems, their relative roles and complex inter-relationships
- an understanding of main issues for health systems development in low- and middle- income countries and internationally

Skills outcomes
- Ability to recognise and discuss the individual elements of health systems, and the complex relationships between them
- Ability to apply theoretical knowledge to a particular country context
- Ability to apply the principles of health systems strengthening and evaluation to the context of LMIC
- Ability to critically assess relevant published literature

Syllabus

The outline syllabus will include the following topics/issues:
1. Introduction to health systems
2. Health systems reforms
3. Health financing
4. Service delivery and the district health system
5. Public-private partnerships in health systems
6. Health system case studies: maternal health in Afghanistan
7. Resource management: finance and information
8. Resource management: human resources
9. Introduction to monitoring and evaluation

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	9	3.00	27.00
Private study hours			123.00
Total Contact hours			27.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Private study will comprise the following:
- follow-up tasks: about 1 hour per seminar- 9 hours
- preparing for and conducting assignments: 40 hours
- reading during course: 74 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

This will be done through:
- observation of class dynamics, discussions and group work - verbal feedback will be given by the teacher
- group work - verbal feedback on both the content and process will be provided by the teacher

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words	65.00
Presentation	10 mins presentation; 5 mins questions (800 words equivalent)	30.00
Reflective log	200 words	5.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Assessment is set during week one of teaching for the module. The presentation is delivered during the last week of teaching for the module. The assignment and reflective log are submitted two weeks after the end of teaching for the module. Precise dates vary from year to year. The assessment elements compensate for each other.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 31/10/2024

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