About this course: In this course, learners will become familiar with principles and theories of global health problems, and major challenges and controversies in improving global population health as well as practical applications of quantitative methods to analyze and interpret issues and challenges for policy. Topics will include health and foreign policy, health governance, acute disease surveillance, non-communicable diseases, burden of disease, universal health coverage, health systems strengthening, health financing, and human resources for health and ageing.
Who is this class for: Both undergraduate and graduate students aiming to learn basics of global health policy. No background is necessary, though basic medical knowledge is helpful.
Created by: The University of Tokyo
Taught by: Hiroshi Nishiura, (Former Affiliation) Associate Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo
(Current Affiliation) Professor, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University
Taught by: Stuart Gilmour, Associate Professor
Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine
Taught by: Kenji Shibuya, Professor and Chair
Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine
| Level | Beginner |
| Commitment | 4 weeks of study, 2-3 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Global Health Policy and Governance
There are four modules in this lecture series. We will start with key issues in current global health policy and governance. The year 2015 reminded political leaders and the public that people’s safety is a genuine challenge at a time of disease epidemics, terrorism, refugee and migration crises, and climate change among others. The recent Ebola virus outbreaks in west Africa exposed weaknesses in core global functions, such as the provision of global public goods, management of cross-boarder externalities and fostering of leadership and stewardship. This module describes major challenges and issues in global health policy and proposes actions in global health, in particular for Japan at the G7 Ise-Shima Summit.
9 videos, 1 reading, 3 practice quizzes
- Video: Course Overview
- Reading: Course Description
- Video: Global Health Transition
- Video: Epidemiological Transition
- Video: Evolution of Global Health
- Video: Global Health Governance
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 1-1
- Video: Global Health Challenges
- Video: Challenges in Global Health Policy
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 1-2
- Video: Japan’s Commitment to Global Health
- Video: Proposals for the G7 Summit
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 1-3
Graded: Graded Quiz 1
WEEK 2
Pandemics and Health Security Responses
In this module, we will explore the relationship between universal health coverage, disasters and pandemics. We will learn how to measure and understand the spread of infectious diseases, and how to respond to them. We will also consider the conditions necessary to ensure an effective and timely response to both infectious disease emergencies and disasters, and identify the common role that universal health coverage plays in preparing societies for these unexpected threats to human well-being.
11 videos, 6 practice quizzes
- Video: Pandemics and Health Security Response I
- Video: Pandemics and Health Security Response II
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 2-1
- Video: Outbreak Investigation "Consider Your Action" I
- Video: Outbreak Investigation "Consider Your Action" II
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 2-2
- Video: Lessons from Pandemic H1N1-2009
- Video: Real-time Research Response
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 2-3
- Video: Disasters, health and human security
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 2-4
- Video: Acute disaster response in an aging society
- Video: Acute effects
- Video: Long-term health effects
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 2-5
- Video: Health, human security and disaster response
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 2-6
Graded: Graded Quiz 2
WEEK 3
Universal Health Coverage in the Context of Aging
In Module 3, we will introduce the basic concept of universal health coverage (UHC), some technical aspects of health financing, and methods for measuring and improving UHC systems. We will also discuss the challenges to UHC posed by aging and development, including for developing countries. Finally, we will explore policy solutions to aging, and look at new policies being used around the world to improve and strengthen UHC systems.
9 videos, 5 practice quizzes
- Video: Overview and concepts
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 3-1
- Video: Financial Risk Protection I
- Video: Financial Risk Protection II
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 3-2
- Video: Health Service Coverage
- Video: Equity
- Video: Aging
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 3-3
- Video: Case study 1: Japan
- Video: Case study 2: Bangladesh
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 3-4
- Video: New Policy Directions
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 3-5
Graded: Graded Quiz 3
WEEK 4
The Future of Japan's Health System: Sustaining Good Health with Equity at Low Cost
One of the central themes in today’s global health policy is the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC). The recent Ebola crisis has indicated that not only responses, but preparedness is key to tackling health emergencies. There is a growing consensus that a set of low-cost, smart investments at country level has the potential to make a significant difference in building resilient health systems. Japan achieved UHC in 1961 at a time of rapid economic development, while the country was still relatively poor. Japan has achieved some of the best population health outcomes at relatively low cost with equity over half a century. However, Japan is facing a huge demographic and fiscal challenge to sustain its health system. In this module, we will review the historical context for Japan’s health system development, examine current challenges to its sustainability, and examine ongoing efforts to reform the system. The major objective is to share important lessons in current debates on global health policy and governance from Japan’s experiences.
8 videos, 3 practice quizzes
- Video: UHC in Japan: Introduction
- Video: Understanding Health System Performance
- Video: Population Health
- Video: UHC in Japan: Achievements and Challenges
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 4-1
- Video: Cost Containment
- Video: Service Quality
- Video: Population Aging
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 4-2
- Video: Future Directions
- Practice Quiz: Practice Quiz 4-3
Graded: Graded Quiz 4
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The University of Tokyo
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Ratings and Reviews
the course is very good
This was a great introduction to global health, with a focus on the Japanese health care system. The first half of the course covers the more traditional conception of global health, going into financing mechanisms and pandemic/catastrophe responses. The second half covers universal health care, especially the current Japanese system. The three professors who teach this course are truly experts in their field and have a wealth of knowledge on these topics, and hearing their thoughts on these contemporary issues was refreshing. In fact, a lot of the literature relevant to this course is authored by these very same professors, so the expertise is definitely there. I only wish that there were more lectures to cover some of the advanced topics more throughly because I think the professors definitely had more to say about these topics and their respective fields. All in all, an excellent series of lectures.
Excellent course and great materials on UHC, epidemiological transition and the impact of population ageing on sustainably financing and delivering quality health services for all. I also very much appreciated the very informative sessions presenting the experience of Japan.
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Fun and interesting course. I do international humanitarian work and i found the course a great overall source of information.