Course Outline - McMaster University

Session 3
Health Care Systems and Priorities
Objectives:
1. Situate the development of a national health care system within the current sociopolitical
reality.
2. Identify the impact of economic and political forces on the development of a
health care system.
3. Identify national and international issues that impact on the health status of a
nation.
Key concepts: Global Health, WHO, PAHO, Millennium Development Goals;
Neoliberalism, NAFTA, Public/Private Mix
Readings
Article/framework for analyzing a HCS; Seear Text
Seminar activities
Select a global health care issue and discuss the historical and current response of a national
health system of your choice. Consider regional, national and international impact.
On-Line References
Boutros-Ghali, B. (2003). The Interaction between Democracy and Development.
Available at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/0013243e.pdf
Blagescu, M., & Young, J. (2005). Partnerships and Accountability: Current
thinking and approaches among agencies supporting Civil Society Organizations,
Working Paper 255. London: Overseas Development Institute. Available at:
http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/working_papers/wp255.pdf
Case, A, Paxton, C & Vogl, T. (May 2006) Socioeconomic Status and Health in
Childhood: A comment on Chen, Martin & Matthews (2006). National Bureau of
Economic Research. Working Papers Series. Available at:
http://www.princeton.edu/~rpds/downloads/case_paxson_vogl_15090%20w12267.pdf
Dresch, N, Dolea, C, Dal Poz, MR, Govharev, A, Adams, O et al. (2005). An approach to
estimating human resource requirements to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals. Health Policy & Planning 20(5), 267-276. Available at:
http://heapol.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/5/267
OECD (February 2005). Forum on Partnerships for More Effective Development. Available at:
http://www.oecd.org/document/49/0,2340,en_2649_33721_34060145_1_1_1_1,00.html
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