Health Policy and Action

The field of health is dynamic and complex. Health is influenced by a diversity of interconnected factors, and different sectors and actors are involved. Consequently, the development of public health policy is essential, and organisations and professionals have to collaborate in the provision of care, prevention and health promotion. Health promotion is participatory and community-based. We take a holistic approach and address multiple levels, sectors and disciplines.

In this course, we review the influence of global, national, and local health policies on the organisation of public health systems. For instance, policies of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) influence the organisation of national health systems. Likewise, national health policies determine local health policy and thereby local health systems. Decision-making during the development of health policies depends on the actors involved and on the context in which the policymaking takes place. We take a closer look at health policy on the global, national, and local levels and discuss theories, decision-making models, and tools in the field of health policy development and network societies. We also unravel the policy-making process and address priority setting in health.

The functioning of organisations and actors within the health field is strongly related to health policies. Public health and society professionals have an important role in promoting and protecting health. They collaborate with policymakers, professionals within the healthcare sector, professionals from other sectors, communities, and citizens. We discuss theories and methods to set policy on the agenda, and to develop, implement and evaluate policy. We also study policy implementation from the perspective of specific stakeholders such as general practitioners, health promotion professionals and citizens.

In this course, students acquire more in-depth knowledge and competencies in the field of health and health promotion and are trained in program-level learning outcomes of the Bachelor Health and Society. Program-level learning outcomes addressed are: applying theoretical approaches, explaining health policymaking in the field of public health, choosing and applying research methods, explaining ethical issues that may arise when working in the field of public health, collaborating in a (multidisciplinary) team, communicating clearly (verbally and writing) and reflecting upon personal knowledge, skills, attitudes and functioning. As such, the course helps students to prepare themselves for their professional life, for example as a researcher, health professional, health policy advisor or manager.

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:

• Understand how social, cultural, economic, demographic and political factors influence policy-making processes in health and coordinated action in public health
• Understand policy-making processes in Health at different levels
• Understand the importance of coordinated action within public health policy
• Apply relevant theories about policy- making and coordinated action
• Apply tools for policy-making and for coordinated action for Health
• Apply competencies such as networking, communication and chairing a meeting

Assumed Knowledge:

HSO10806 Introduction Health and Society or HSO20306 Environmental Assets for Health or HSO20806 Health Psychology.