International Health Care Systems
- HealthXcelerate
Group Enrollment Option A program that is a popular choice for organizations and institutions to purchase in bulk.
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Gain a global perspective on health care delivery, financing, and regulation. Explore the historical context, funding mechanisms, and current challenges faced by health care systems in both developed and emerging markets.
- Online; Self-Paced
Enroll and gain access to course materials to complete at your own pace.
$495
Explore options to bundle courses and save.
Certificate
Earn a short course certificate of completion when you finish all coursework within 8 weeks.
3-4 Hours
Most people can expect to complete short courses in 3-4 hours.
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Overview
In International Health Care Systems, led by Rifat Atun, MBBS, MBA, FRCGP, FFPH, FRCP, you will examine health care as an interconnected system rather than a set of separate organizations. The course introduces a conceptual framework that clarifies core health system functions—governance and organization, financing, and resource management—and links them to the services they generate, the objectives they target, and the outcomes they deliver.
By engaging with systems thinking and global health system archetypes, and by analyzing multidimensional notions of value (effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and responsiveness) and broader contextual forces (political, economic, demographic, technological, and sociocultural), you will build tools to understand why systems differ, why they perform differently, and how they change. You will learn to interpret emerging policy trends, anticipate tradeoffs, assess their implications for your industry and organization, and identify ways your organization can proactively respond to and contribute to health system improvement.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the importance of applying a "systems view" of health systems.
- Distinguish between different health system archetypes by governance, financing, and resource management.
- Define "value" in health systems and explain how it is created.
- Identify the key drivers of health system performance, including context, policy, and system characteristics.
- Ideate strategies to respond proactively and effectively to national and global policy trends.
Who Should Participate
Health care professionals throughout the industry seeking better understanding of the health care system
About the Course
HealthXcelerate courses offer a foundational, 360‑degree view of the health care ecosystem, drawing on the expertise of Harvard Medical School faculty and industry leaders. With a focus on the patient experience, the curriculum explores how the U.S. system compares with those of other countries, how clinical care connects to the broader health care industry, and how patients navigate and influence the system. Learners who complete HealthXcelerate courses build fluency and credibility in communicating key issues, critically assessing barriers to quality and access, and identifying opportunities for leadership and innovation.
Who Should Enroll
This program will benefit industry and clinical leaders across the health care ecosystem; research and innovation managers with increasing global responsibility; entrepreneurs and consultants; business and technology professionals who work closely with health care organizations; and those transitioning into the health care space.
Bundle Pricing
Are you ready to elevate your educational journey and maximize the investment in your future?
You can bundle up to five courses. Bundle discounts apply to all courses selected. A bundle can consist of courses in the same upcoming enrollment period or the following enrollment period.
Two-course bundle: 25% discount
Three-course bundle: 30% discount
Four-course bundle: 35% discount
Five-course bundle: 40% discount
Faculty Leads
Each course within the HealthXcelerate program features Harvard Medical School faculty and leading experts in the field.
Rifat Atun
MBBS, MBA, FRCGP, FFPH, FRCP
HealthXcelerate is an excellent opportunity to learn more about all aspects of the U.S. health care system. The flexible course framework makes it easier to integrate into my busy work days than other programs.
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