This module will introduce you to the global health policy environment and the actors who influence it. It involves analysis of the key stakeholders in policy formulation and their involvement in changing patterns of healthcare provision. The role of governments, NGOs, supranational institutions and corporations are examined in the context of complex global trends in health and health care. There is a focus on some key policy debates such as global trade and health, health worker migration and access to medicines, alongside introductions to health economics, health systems and health policy analysis. Like all of our modules, these issues are analysed through the lens of social science, emphasising how they are influenced by politics, economics, society and culture.

The module aims to enable you to analyse and evaluate health policy at the local, national and international levels. You will gain insight into the evolution of policy, how content is decided upon and the relative influence of different individuals, organisations and institutions upon each stage of the policy development process.

After taking this module you should be able to:

Analyse the different ways in which global forces can impact on the health and health care of individuals, populations and nations.
	Understand the influence of global institutions, donors and civil society on the processes that affect health policy.
	Understand the impact that the United Nations and other international organisations play in health and health care.
	Understand the contributions of government, private and donor funds to providing health care in poor countries.
	Understand the involvement of donors and recipients in planning health care policies and spending.
	Understand and analyse the role of states and markets in health and health care.
	Analyse the influence of Public Private Partnerships, multinational companies and civil society on health and health care.
	Understand the impact of global politics on health policy
	Understand the relationship between health, health care and broader processes of human and economic development.
	Understand the process of policy-making and implementation.
The module is compulsory to students on the iBSc Global Health.

Selected reading list: 

http://readinglists.ucl.ac.uk/lists/3779D84B-6215-56E0-F995-E9A822B881C7.html