Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and
assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in
place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
Unit name |
Health Policy in a Global Context |
Unit code |
SPOL20055 |
Credit points |
20 |
Level of study |
I/5
|
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
Unit director |
Dr. Dodds |
Open unit status |
Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None
|
Co-requisites |
None
|
School/department |
School for Policy Studies |
Faculty |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit explores measures of health in an international context and the limitations of such measures, including global patterns in life expectancy, mortality and morbidity, and key factors involved in the global distribution of health. The focus is on differences between and within countries using various demographic and socio-economic measures. The unit then examines relationships between health and policy, focusing on formal and informal health systems, the role of social, economic and political influences on health policy, and the impact of globalisation and global restructuring on health policy. We look at aspects of global health governance and the impact of transnational companies on health. The unit concludes with an examination of various theoretical frameworks to explain the persistence of global health inequality, the role and relevance of different intergovernmental and transnational actors, and the limitations of global health governance.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Students are expected to develop an understanding of:
- the meaning of global health policy and the various ways in which health services are delivered around the world
- the meaning of global health governance and the role of various global organisations in shaping health experience
- the relationship between changing patterns of health and illness and wider processes of global restructuring
- the major determinants shaping health care in different parts of the world
- different theoretical perspectives in discussion and critique of global health and global health governance
Teaching Information
Lectures and seminars.
Assessment Information
Essay outline (500 words) (25%)
Essay (2500 words) (75%)
Reading and References
- Haynes, L. Legge,D. et al. (2013) Will the struggle for health equity and social justice be best served by a Framework Convention on Global Health? Health and Human Rights 15, 1, 111-116
- Kent B, Hein, W and Drager, N. (eds) (2009) Making sense of global health governance : a policy perspective Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
- Kruk ME. (2012) Globalisation and global health governance: Implications for public health. Global Public Health 7: S54-S62.
- Dodgson, R., Lee, K & Drager, N. (2002) Global Health Governance: A conceptual review. Centre on Global Change and Health, LSHTM & WHO
- Global Health Watch (2012) Global Health Watch 3: An Alternative World Health Report
- Prah Ruger, J. (2011) “Shared health Governance” American Journal of Bioethics, 11, 7.