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Teaching Overview

For further information, contact Prudence Ditlopo: Tel: 27 11 717 3433;
Email: prudence.ditlopo@wits.ac.za. For more information on the courses listed below, please click here.
To see the brochure, click here.

Masters in Public Health: Field of Health Systems and Policy

The Centre for Health Policy (CHP) strives to provide learning opportunities which build and strengthen capacity in Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR). CHP is actively involved in post-graduate teaching of Masters of Public Health (MPH) in Health Systems and Policy within the School of Public Health. This is run every second year and was held in 2017.

The degree mainly targets middle and senior-managers, civil servants, researchers and activists working in the public and non-governmental sectors to prepare them for the changing policy dynamics and health system challenges in South Africa and other low- and middle-income countries. We teach five modules which include lectures, interactive class exercise, country case studies, student-led database, group work, plenary discussions, an individual assignment and integrated exams. Given the demand, we offer all of our modules, except Health Care Financing, as short courses.

Introduction to Health Systems

This module provides an introduction to the components, actors and inter-relationships of the health system, as well as core principles of systems thinking and policy analysis as a platform for health systems analysis, action and research. The course considers what a health system is and why it is important, and introduces frameworks for thinking about health systems. This module is co-ordinated by Dr Nonhlanhla Nxumalo and Dr Prudence Ditlopo: +27 11 717 3432; Email: nonhlanhla.nxumalo@wits.ac.za or prudence.ditlopo@wits.ac.za

Health Policy and Policy Analysis (HPPA)


This module introduces students to contemporary HPPA concepts, theories and debates. The course also provides an outline of key issues in health policy analysis and introduces the application of theoretical frameworks and approaches to routine work experiences and 'real life' policies. This module is co-ordinated by Dr Nonhlanhla Nxumalo and Dr Prudence Ditlopo: +27 11 717 3432; Email: nonhlanhla.nxumalo@wits.ac.za or prudence.ditlopo@wits.ac.za

Health Care Financing (HCF)

The module introduces students to health care financing concepts and their application. It also provides learners with an understanding of financing arrangements in terms of sources, collection, risk pooling, regulation and strategic purchasing, as well as different country experiences in moving towards universal health coverag. This module is co-ordinated by Prof Jane Goudge : Tel +27 11 717 3425; Email: jane.goudge@gmail.com

Health Systems Organisation & Human Resources for Health (HSOHRH)

This module covers two key ‘building blocks’ of health systems, namely health service organisation and human resources for health. It gives students a broader understanding of how these areas relate to health systems strengthening, and provides an overview to contemporary issues in health services organisation, with attention to health decentralisation, and district and primary health care implementation. The course also covers different approaches to health workforce planning and strategies for addressing the human resource problems. This module is co-ordinated by Dr Prudence Ditlopo and Dr Duane Blaauw: Tel: +27 11 717 3433 or +27 11 717 3422;Email: prudence.ditlopo@wits.ac.za or duane.blaauw@wits.ac.za

Health Economics

This course provides a basic introduction to the field of Health Economics. It explores the insights that an economic perspective can contribute to the planning and implementation of health services and health systems. The first half of the course focuses on the application of classical and behavioural economic approaches to analysing individual health behaviour and the functioning of health markets.The second half of the course covers the principles and common methods of economic evaluation, particularly cost-effectiveness analysis. It will also provide the student with basic skills in the interpretation and critique of cost-effectiveness studies. This module is co-ordinated by Dr Duane Blaauw: +27 11 717 3422; Email: duane.blaauw@wits.ac.za

Some additional details about the structure of the MPH programme:

The MPH can be offered as both a part time block release programme (3-4 years programme) and a full time block release (2 year programme). Currently, the only field of study that we are able to offer on a full-time block release basis is the Social and Behavior Change Communication. The modular block release structure (for both part time block release and full time block release studies) means that you attend 1 week teaching blocks from 8-5pm Monday to Friday, sometimes spilling over into Saturday. For the part time block release programme, the usual gap between teaching blocks is 5-6 weeks and you have to complete 6 modules in the first year. At the end of the 6 teaching blocks, you write an examination, (usually in June and/or October of the academic year). For the full time block release programme the gap between the teaching blocks is usually 2-3 weeks and you will be required to complete all coursework (i.e. 12 modules) within the first year and the research component in the 2nd year. More about course Click here