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Title: Health Policy and Systems Analysis
Keywords: Planning and programming (incl.. budgeting and evaluation)
Health systems
Health Policy (incl. advocacy)
Country: Switzerland
Institution: Switzerland - Swiss Tropical & Public Health Institute, Basel
Course coordinator: Prof. Fabrizio Tedosi
Barbara Bürkin
Date start: 2021-05-17
Date end: 2021-08-27
About duration and dates: The course covers a period of 12 weeks, in which only the on-campus phase (5 days) is full time. Application deadline: 30 April 2021 Preparation phase (self-directed): 17 May - 25 June 2021 On-campus phase: 28 June - 02 July 2021 Post campus phase (self-directed): 5 July - 27 August 2021
Classification: advanced optional
Mode of delivery: Blended-learning
Course location:
Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, P.O. Box, Socinstrasse 57, CH – 4002 Basel, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 61 284 81 15, Fax +41 61 284 81 06
Website: www.swisstph.ch
tropEd representative: A. Hoffmann, B. Peterhans
axel.hoffmann@swisstph.ch
ECTS credit points: 6 ECTS credits
SIT:
TOTAL SIT: 180 h
- Face-to-face hours: 40 h
- Self-study hours: 140 h (incl. the possibility of distance-based interaction with students and facilitators)
Language: English
Description:
After successfully completing the module, students will be able to:


● Critically analyse the concepts of disease and risk factor patterns in relation to concepts of priority health problems and policies (assignment 3)
● Critically reflect how societies organise themselves in achieving collective health goals (assignment 3)
● Describe how different actors interact in the policy and implementation processes to contribute to policy outcomes (assignment 1 and 2)
● Analyse how health systems respond and adapt to health policies (assignment 1, 2 and 3)
● Evaluate how health policies can shape — and be shaped by — health systems and the broader determinants of health (assignment 2 and 3)
Assessment Procedures:
During the preparation period, students get several readings to prepare for the on-campus week. In addition they get seven questions related to the content of the readings and have to prepare one presentation slide per questions as their answer. This assignment has to be submitted by 25 July 2020, midnight latest, passing grade 60%. (This counts for 20% of the total mark).

On the last day of the course students have a 2-hours written exam with short answer questions, based on cases during the on-campus phase (passing grade: 60%; this counts for 30% of total mark).

Following the on-campus period of the module, students will write an analysis of the health system of a LMIC, using the tools and approaches presented during the on-campus week. They have to focus on at least one of the following aspects: Burden of Disease, availability and accessibility of health services, quality of health services, financing. Furthermore they have to recommend a policy for implementation addressing the analysed challenges. Word limit: 3’500 words (passing grade 60%; this counts for 50% of the total mark).

In addition, students will have to present individual and group work findings throughout the on-campus week (not graded).


● A failing grade in one of the three assignments is allowed as long as the total mark for the module is 60 out of 100 points or better.
● A re-submission of the assignment following the on-campus week – if failed – is possible, the timeframe has to be negotiated with the course coordinator within two months after being informed of the failure.
● A re-assessment of the preparatory assignment has to be submitted three weeks after the on-campus week.
● A failure in the written exam can be re-sit after consultation with the coordinators (distance-based re-exam might be possible).
Each of the three assignments can be resit only once; in case of a resit or resubmission students will get the pass mark (60%).
Content:
During the preparation period, students get several readings to prepare for the on-campus week. In addition they get seven questions related to the content of the readings and have to prepare one presentation slide per questions as their answer. This assignment has to be submitted by 25 July 2020, midnight latest, passing grade 60%. (This counts for 20% of the total mark).

On the last day of the course students have a 2-hours written exam with short answer questions, based on cases during the on-campus phase (passing grade: 60%; this counts for 30% of total mark).

Following the on-campus period of the module, students will write an analysis of the health system of a LMIC, using the tools and approaches presented during the on-campus week. They have to focus on at least one of the following aspects: Burden of Disease, availability and accessibility of health services, quality of health services, financing. Furthermore they have to recommend a policy for implementation addressing the analysed challenges. Word limit: 3’500 words (passing grade 60%; this counts for 50% of the total mark).

In addition, students will have to present individual and group work findings throughout the on-campus week (not graded).


● A failing grade in one of the three assignments is allowed as long as the total mark for the module is 60 out of 100 points or better.
● A re-submission of the assignment following the on-campus week – if failed – is possible, the timeframe has to be negotiated with the course coordinator within two months after being informed of the failure.
● A re-assessment of the preparatory assignment has to be submitted three weeks after the on-campus week.
● A failure in the written exam can be re-sit after consultation with the coordinators (distance-based re-exam might be possible).
Each of the three assignments can be resit only once; in case of a resit or resubmission students will get the pass mark (60%).
Methods:
During the two distance-based phases, students will engage in self-directed learning, to meet learning objectives, using materials and tools provided on the online learning management system (Moodle).

● Preparation phase: consists of 40 hrs of independent study (readings, assessed tasks) to prepare for face-to-face sessions. Contact to the course coordinators and fellow students to support is given using the forum provided on the learning platform.
● Post-campus phase: consists of 100 hours of independent study; students have to write an analysis of a health system of a LMIC.
● In the pre- and post-campus phase students interact with each other and the facilitators using a forum on the electronic platform. Facilitators can be approached at any time during these phases to get feedback to the specific tasks.
The on-campus week (40 hours) week is taught through short plenary lectures to give the basic knowledge needed, and plenary/group workshops, including case studies, documentaries and presentations. In addition, students undertake guided independent study throughout. The class structure and teaching methods employed will be interactive in nature, and class participation is actively encouraged. Small group work findings will be presented throughout the week.
Prerequisites:
tropEd candidates must show an English language level TOEFL test 550 or 213 computer-based or 79/80 internet-based or IELTS band 6.0 or equivalent.
Students need a reliable internet connection to follow the preparation phase and the post-campus (assignment) phase. No specific software licenses are needed.
Attendance:
Maximum of 20 students per course; maximum number of tropEd students: 8
Selection:
For tropEd students: First come, first served principle
Fees:
Students who are enrolled in a tropEd Master programme pay the reduced fee of CHF 2’450; other students pay CHF 2’850 (CHF 410 per ECTS credit point).
Scholarships:
none
Major changes since initial accreditation: Major changes will be made in the assessments: The written exam will take place no longer weeks after the on-campus phase, but on the last day of the on-campus phase. Furthermore one of the main facilitators has been replaced (due to retirement).
Student evaluation: Students like most the case studies used during on-campus teaching. Complaints about a facilitator from WHO were addressed in inviting others to address the specific topics. Another complaint addressed the weak feedback from one facilitator – this was discussed and could be improved.
Lessons learned: We respond to the students complaints of a written exam months after the on-campus phase and have integrated this exam into the course week.
tropEd accreditation:
Accredited in February 2015. Reaccreditation GA Rabat (EC TelCO) June 2020. This accreditation is valid until June 2025.
Remarks:
This module is offered regularly as a core-module in Swiss TPH’s MBA in International Health Management programme, therefore the number of tropEd students we can admit is limited.

Throughout the module, an online learning management system (Moodle) will be used to support learning activities in the distance-based phases, during which students will be required to complete assignments, communicate with their working groups and upload learning products. Through the electronic platform, students will also have the opportunity to interact with each other (and the facilitators) at their convenience to discuss these same learning products, using discussion forums and other tools.

On request, distance-based, more detailed discussions with facilitators are possible during agreed timeslots and using Zoom.
Email Address: courses@swisstph.ch
Date Of Record Creation: 2015-02-18 19:26:55 (W3C-DTF)
Date Of Record Release: 2017-09-27 03:09:26 (W3C-DTF)
Date Record Checked: 2018-03-16 (W3C-DTF)
Date Last Modified: 2020-09-15 15:16:04 (W3C-DTF)

Fifteen years of the tropEd Masters in International Health programme: what has it delivered? Results of an alumni survey of masters students in international health

L. Gerstel1, P. A. C. Zwanikken1, A. Hoffman2, C. Diederichs3, M. Borchert3 and B. Peterhans2

1 Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2 Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
3 Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health, Charite – Universit€atsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany