14111 - Economics of Health Systems Modulübersicht

Module Number: 14111
Module Title:Economics of Health Systems
  Ökonomie der Gesundheitssysteme
Department: Faculty 2 - Environment and Natural Sciences
Responsible Staff Member:
  • Dr. rer. nat. habil. Rödiger, Stefan
Language of Teaching / Examination:English
Duration:1 semester
Frequency of Offer: Every winter semester
Credits: 6
Learning Outcome:The teaching is carried out externally by Dr. David Rutstein SolHealth, USA

The aim is to understand health economics relationships and to weigh up efficiency and costs.
In addition to health economics, management, quality assurance, decision theory and cost-benefit analysis are also taught.
Ethical perspective
In addition to economic goals, the focus is on questions of justice and equality in the health care system.
Health economists must find the balance between economic and ethical aspects.
Overall, it is clear that health economics is an interdisciplinary field that deals with the efficient and ethically justifiable allocation of scarce resources in the health care system.
Interdisciplinary course offering that combines business and economics, social sciences and medical informatics.The module ‘Economics of Health Systems’ offers a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of health economics. Students learn to weigh up the relationships between health economics, efficiency and costs. This module prepares students to master the complex field of health economics by balancing economic efficiency with ethical and social considerations.

Contents:Deals with core aspects of health economics:
  • the scarcity of resources in the health care system and how to deal with it
  • Applies economic methods and theories to the health care system, e.g. supply and demand of health services
  • Analyzes the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the use of health resources
  • Considers the tension between medical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness
  • Deals with questions of quality and fair distribution of health services
Recommended Prerequisites:none
Mandatory Prerequisites:none
Forms of Teaching and Proportion:
  • Lecture / 4 Hours per Week per Semester
  • Self organised studies / 120 Hours
Teaching Materials and Literature:
  • "Health Economics" by Charles E. Phelps - A standard textbook that provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals of health economics, including the analysis of supply and demand in the healthcare sector.
  • "The Economics of Health and Health Care" by Sherman Folland, Allen C. Goodman, and Miron Stano - Covers the application of economic concepts to healthcare and health policy issues.
Module Examination:Final Module Examination (MAP)
Assessment Mode for Module Examination:written exam 120 min
Evaluation of Module Examination:Performance Verification – graded
Limited Number of Participants:None
Part of the Study Programme:
  • Bachelor (research-oriented) / Life Science and International Health / PO 2025
Remarks:online lecture
Module Components:
  • Lecture / 4 Hours per Week per Semester
Components to be offered in the Current Semester:
  • no assignment