Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes, 7.5 credits

Bachelor's degree or professional qualification worth at least 180 credits in public health science, healthcare or other relevant social sciences subject area. Proficiency in the English language documented by an internationally recognized test such as TOEFL with a total score of at least 79 (internet based), 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based), IELTS with a total score of at least 6,0 (no band less than 5,0), or other documentation that certifies English language skills equivalent to English B at Swedish upper secondary school.

The goal of the course is to increase knowledge about how economic evaluation can be used and contribute to improved prioritizing and decisions about which health care interventions and health technologies that should be used in order to maximize health benefits given limited resources. The course increases the understanding of principles, methods, and practical considerations related to the accomplishment of economic evaluation, and how economic evaluation can be used for prioritizing and decision-making within health care sector, at the clinical, organizational and societal level in order to maximize health benefits.

After completion of the course, students should be able:

Knowledge and understanding

• to describe the theory, principles and methods of economic evaluation
• to describe and compare basic cost concepts and methods for analysing uncertainty
• to describe and compare methods for modelling and collection of data for economic evaluation
• to describe and compare methods for monetary valuations of health improvements
• to describe how real world evidence (RWE) based on real world data (RWD) can be used in the economic evaluation of medical interventions

Skills and abilities

• to perform a basic economic evaluation based on clinical data
• to select health care interventions and health technologies according to the decision rules of cost-effectiveness analysis with the aim to maximize health benefits
• to calculate costs and health outcomes of different health care interventions and health technologies

Judgement and approach

• to critically assess health economic evaluations
• to reflect on the choice of methods for economic evaluation of health care interventions and health technologies
• to reflect on the role of health economic evaluation for different actors in society
• to critically appraise real world evidence based on real world data in economic evaluation

The course covers cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis, cost-benefit analysis, costs, health outcomes, decision rules for prioritizing, willingness to pay for health improvements, practical applications, real world evidence and critical assessment of economic evaluation studies.

The course includes lectures, seminars, group work, student presentations and individual assignments.

- Individual written assignment
- Individual contribution in written report and oral presentation of group work

Requirements for the grade pass with distinction (VG), are VG on the individual written assignment, and pass (G) on remaining assignments.

Compulsory participation
Participation in selected lectures, seminars and group work is compulsory.  The examiner assesses if, and in that case how, absence from compulsory parts can be compensated. Before the student has participated in all compulsory parts or compensated absence in accordance with the examiner's instructions, the student's results for respective part will not be registered. Absence from a compulsory activity may result in that the student cannot compensate the absence until the next time the course is given.

Limitation of number of occasions to write the exam
Students who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to participate in five more examinations. If the student has not passed the exam after four participations he/she is encouraged to visit the study advisor. If the student has failed six examinations/tests, no additional examination or new admission is provided.

The number of times that the student has participated in one and the same examination is regarded as an examination session. Submission of a blank examination is regarded as an examination. An examination for which the student registered but not participated in will not be counted as an examination.

If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus's regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and abilities may not be changed, removed or reduced.

The course has been cancelled and was offered for the last time in the spring semester of 2023. The course has been replaced with another, and examination will be provided according to the guidelines in the syllabus for 4HM020.

Course evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the guidelines established by the Committee for Higher Education. 

The course language is English.