Health Systems Development: Health systems, Policy and Research from Coursera

This specialization is intended for people interested in health systems and how they function. Participants will learn about the global health systems landscape and the challenges and opportunities to achieve better health outcomes.

This specialisation is divided into three courses which are offered as massive online open access courses (Courses 1-3), and a fourth course which is offered as part of the Online MPH degree (capstone). The Health Systems Development specialisation is geared toward learners who have no prior knowledge of health systems or those who are starting to explore this area of study. Overall, sessions in this specialisation span 16 week with approximately 96 hours of viewing learning materials per week. Formative assessments in the form of quizzes and activities are incorporated throughout the weeks to help learners gauge their level of depth of understanding and to prepare them for their summative assessments.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore a range of areas within health systems. The first course will introduce the main building blocks of health systems and shed some light on key components of well-functioning health systems including how health system performance is assessed. In course two, students will learn how to conduct a health impact assessment and how to assess the impacts of policies, plans and projects, as well as how that support decision-makers make choices regarding alternatives and improvements to prevent disease or injury and to actively promote health. The third course explores human resources for health and service delivery. In this course, students will learn about and analyse country experiences in transforming health services delivery, and interventions and to address human resources for health challenges at a global level.

By the end of this specialisation, learners should be able to identify key components of, and critically compare, different health systems; analyse country experiences in transforming services; and apply theoretical framework for assessing the health impacts of policies, plans and projects.

What's inside

Syllabus

Health Impact Assessment

This week you will learn about health impact assessment, what that means in terms of assessing the health impacts of policies, plans and projects, and how that helps decision-makers make choices about alternatives and improvements to prevent disease or injury and to actively promote health.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches skills, knowledge, and tools that are highly relevant to industry

Taught by Dr Sondus Hassounah, who are recognized for their work in health systems

Offers hands-on labs and interacive materials

Builds a strong foundation for beginners in health systems

Prerequisite knowledge not required, so accessible to learners without prior experience

Covers key components of well-functioning health systems, including health system performance assessment

Reviews summary

Foundational health systems & policy overview

According to learners, this specialization offers a strong foundational understanding of health systems, policy, and research, proving particularly beneficial for those new to the field or starting to explore global health. Many highlight the clarity of lectures and the practical utility of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA) module. While it excels as an introduction, some experienced professionals found the depth to be introductory, suggesting it might be less suitable for advanced learners. Reviews consistently praise its relevance for understanding contemporary global health challenges and providing actionable insights.

Ideal for beginners; less depth for advanced professionals.

"Some sections felt a bit basic for someone with a public health background, but overall, it's a solid foundation."

"I expected more depth. While the course covers the basics, it doesn't go beyond a superficial level."

"For someone already in public health, much of it felt like a review rather than new learning. Needs more challenge."

"It is suitable for those new to public health or policy, but professionals might find it a bit introductory."

Course content is clear, well-explained, and highly relevant.

"The lectures were clear and concise, making complex topics easy to grasp."

"Absolutely brilliant! The instructors explained complex topics very well and provided valuable insights."

"A very relevant course for understanding health systems challenges. It felt timely and current."

"The modules on policy and research were very insightful for my work, providing actionable strategies."

The Health Impact Assessment module is highly practical and useful.

"The health impact assessment module was incredibly practical. I feel much more confident discussing policy now."

"Good overview, especially the HIA part. The readings were comprehensive and well-selected."

"The Health Impact Assessment exercise was challenging but very useful and provided real-world application."

Excellent for beginners and those new to health systems.

"This course was a fantastic introduction to health systems. Highly recommend for beginners."

"It's a solid foundation for anyone looking to understand health systems better."

"Excellent foundational course. It truly breaks down health systems into understandable components."

"I found this the best course for understanding global health systems. Highly recommend it to anyone starting in this field."

Some found the pace slow and interactivity lacking.

"The content is good, but the pace can be slow at times. I found the 'Health systems policy and research' section a bit repetitive."

"I wish there were more interactive elements beyond quizzes to keep engagement high."

"The course felt a bit dry at times, and some of the examples seemed a little dated, which impacted engagement."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Health Systems Development: Health systems, Policy and Research with these activities:

Connect with health systems experts

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Connecting with experts in the field of health systems will provide you with valuable insights and guidance for your learning journey.

Browse courses on Networking

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Attend industry events or conferences
Reach out to professionals through LinkedIn or email
Ask for informational interviews

Calculate health indicators

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Practicing the calculation of health indicators will strengthen your analytical skills and enhance your understanding of health system performance.

Browse courses on Health Metrics

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Find data on health indicators for a specific country or region
Use the data to calculate the health indicators
Compare the results to other countries or regions

Develop a health policy brief

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Developing a health policy brief will help you apply the principles of health policy and systems research to a real-world issue.

Browse courses on Health Policy

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Identify a health issue or problem
Research the issue and develop policy options
Write a policy brief that summarizes the issue, options, and recommendations

Show all three activities

Career center

Learners who complete Health Systems Development: Health systems, Policy and Research will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Health Systems Analyst

Health systems analysts design and evaluate health systems. This specialization may be particularly useful for aspiring health systems analysts, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the methods used to evaluate their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Systems Analyst

Health Policy Advisor

Health policy advisors provide advice and guidance to policymakers on health policy issues. This specialization may be particularly useful for aspiring health policy advisors, as it provides a comprehensive overview of health systems and the policy landscape.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Policy Advisor

Public Health Specialist

Public health specialists work to improve the health of communities through a variety of interventions, including health education, disease prevention, and health promotion. This specialization may be useful for aspiring public health specialists, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the factors that influence the health of populations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Specialist

Health Policy Analyst

Health policy analysts conduct research and analysis on health policy issues, and make recommendations to policymakers and other stakeholders. This specialization may be particularly useful for aspiring health policy analysts, as it provides a comprehensive overview of health systems and the policy landscape.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Policy Analyst

Health Services Researcher

Health services researchers conduct research on the delivery and effectiveness of health services. This specialization may be particularly useful for aspiring health services researchers, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the methods used to evaluate their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Services Researcher

Health Economist

Health economists apply economic principles to the study of health and healthcare. This specialization may be useful for aspiring health economists, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the economic factors that influence their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Economist

Biostatistician

Biostatisticians apply statistical methods to the study of health and healthcare. This specialization may be useful for aspiring biostatisticians, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the statistical methods used to evaluate their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biostatistician

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists investigate the causes and distribution of diseases and other health problems in populations. This specialization may be useful for aspiring epidemiologists, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the factors that influence the health of populations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Epidemiologist

Health Informatics Specialist

Health informatics specialists use information technology to improve the delivery and effectiveness of health services. This specialization may be useful for aspiring health informatics specialists, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the use of technology to improve their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Informatics Specialist

Global Health Consultant

Global health consultants provide advice and guidance to governments, NGOs, and other organizations on global health issues. This specialization may be useful for aspiring global health consultants, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the challenges and opportunities they face in a global context.

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Health Program Manager

Health program managers plan, implement, and evaluate health programs. This specialization may be useful for aspiring health program managers, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the factors that influence their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Program Manager

Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare consultants provide advice and guidance to healthcare organizations on a variety of topics, including strategy, operations, and finance. This specialization may be useful for aspiring healthcare consultants, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the factors that influence their performance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Consultant

Medical Writer

Medical writers create and edit medical content, such as journal articles, patient education materials, and marketing materials. This specialization may be useful for aspiring medical writers, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the factors that influence the health of populations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Writer

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmaceutical sales representatives sell pharmaceutical products to doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. This specialization may be useful for aspiring pharmaceutical sales representatives, as it provides a strong foundation in health systems and the factors that influence the use of pharmaceuticals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Hospital Administrator

Hospital administrators are in charge of the overall management of hospitals and health systems. While a background in healthcare administration is often necessary to enter this role, this specialization may be useful as it provides an overview of health systems and the challenges and opportunities they face. This course may help equip you with some of the specialized knowledge necessary to succeed in a hospital administration role.

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