Analysing Health Systems: Lessons from COVID-19

COVID-19 has tested the resilience of health systems around the world. Not only has the pandemic shown that global systems are unprepared for health crises of this nature, but it has also revealed other pre-existing failures in providing reliable and equitable care to people around the world. Why have there been more cases and deaths in some countries compared to others? How much of this difference is due to the country’s health system?

This six-week Analysing Health Systems: Lessons From COVID-19 online certificate course from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has been designed by faculty from the Department of Health Policy at LSE. Their aim is to influence and improve how health policy and systems are designed, implemented, and evaluated through multidisciplinary research and teaching. These experts have made substantive contributions to health planning and delivery on the global stage.

The course explores the many ways the pandemic has challenged the structure of existing health systems – these effects range from financial losses and disparities in healthcare quality and coverage to failings in institutional and health system governance. Through the lens of COVID-19, you’ll develop the tools and expertise to critically evaluate the performance of health systems, and examine the reasons why some were better prepared than, and outperformed, others. On this course, you’ll gain a technical understanding of health system performance and response, learn to identify and understand the systematic issues experienced around the world, and determine the actions required to improve these structures.

Is this course for you?

This course is designed to provide medical and public sector professionals with the tools to measure and monitor healthcare service delivery, analyse past response frameworks, and better prepare for future health crises. Civil servants, policymakers, researchers, and advisors will gain fresh insights and perspectives related to health system performance to help improve the analysis and development of related policy. Hospital directors, healthcare administrators, and public health specialists will benefit from validating their existing experience and engaging with an international cohort of peers. Senior managers and those in positions of leadership will enhance their ability to take charge in future pandemic situations.