Students

ECON8016 – Health Economics and Policy

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Kompal Sinha
kompal.sinha@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(Admission to GradCertResBus or GradDipResBus) or ECON6049 or ECON6032 or ECON8091
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit introduces students to the economic tools and their application that is relevant to the understanding of the economics of health and health care. Adopting a microeconomic approach, students learn the economic, statistical concepts and techniques relevant to health economics. Topics covered may include supply and demand for health, information and insurance markets, key players in the health care sector, social insurance, the economics of health innovation (pharmaceuticals, technology and health technology assessment), health policy, health systems around the world, the health economics of bads (smoking, alcohol), public health economics, behavioural health economics, ethics in health, impact on economic development and the case of Indigenous health.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • ULO2: Apply theoretical knowledge of applied microeconomics to health economics.
  • ULO3: Evaluate health as a unique economic good, and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • ULO4: Critically analyse the role of health economics in the design of health policy globally.
  • ULO5: Effectively communicate theories and knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

General Assessment Information

 Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments) Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Skills Development: Research and Communication 30% No Week 10
Professional Practice: Application of learning 40% No Week 11
Professional Practice: Debating Policy Issues 30% No Week 13

Skills Development: Research and Communication

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 30%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to develop expertise in crafting and delivering solutions on real-world related issues. You will conduct research and present a literature review on one of the pre-assigned topics.

Skills in focus:

  • Analytical skills
  • Communication skills
  • Digital skills
  • Research

Deliverable: Presentation (approx. 10 min).

This is an individual assessment.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge of applied microeconomics to health economics.
  • Evaluate health as a unique economic good, and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • Effectively communicate theories and knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Professional Practice: Application of learning

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 40%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate the ability to apply the expertise you have gained in Health Economics and Policy. You are required to prepare a case study report on one of the selected policy topics.

Skills in focus:

  • Research
  • Critical thinking
  • Communication skills
  • Digital skills
  • Work readiness

Deliverable: Written Report (max 4,000 words)

This is an individual assessment.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge of applied microeconomics to health economics.
  • Evaluate health as a unique economic good, and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • Critically analyse the role of health economics in the design of health policy globally.
  • Effectively communicate theories and knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

Professional Practice: Debating Policy Issues

Assessment Type 1: Debate
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to develop critical thinking skills and practice how to construct a persuasive argument. You will be assigned a contemporary issue on health policy.

Skills in focus:

  • Problem solving
  • Critical thinking
  • Communication skills
  • Discipline knowledge
  • Work readiness

Deliverable: Debate

This is a group assessment.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate the importance of health economics and its relevance to health systems.
  • Apply theoretical knowledge of applied microeconomics to health economics.
  • Evaluate health as a unique economic good, and the role of market players, market imperfections and the government.
  • Effectively communicate theories and knowledge of health economics in technical and non-technical language.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Required and recommended text:

Lee, R. H. (2014). Economics for healthcare managers. ACHE Learn.

Phillips, C. J. (2008). Health economics: an introduction for health professionals. John Wiley & Sons.

Bhattacharya, J., Hyde, T., & Tu, P. (2013). Health economics. Macmillan International Higher Education.

Folland, S., A. Goodman and M. Stano, The Economics of Health and Health Care, (8th Ed), Pearson.

This textbook is available for purchase at Co-op Bookshop. A small number are available on reserve in the library. Earlier editions are similar but page references may change.

Teaching and learning resources

  • Course material is available on the iLearn unit page.
  • Students will be required to read journal articles every week.
  • The list of these articles will be posted on iLearn unit page.
  • Students will need a PC/Tablet. 
  • Students will use MS-Office for this unit.
  • Students will need to be familiar with platforms for online communications such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams. 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2025.05 of the Handbook