International Postgraduate Diploma in Health Economics. Online

The information corresponding to the forthcoming edition of the programme will be updated shortly.

This distance learning programme is based on the wide experience in on-site academic education provided by 13 editions of the Master's Degree in Health Economics and Health Care Management given at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), which in its early years was taught in conjunction with the University of Barcelona. This international distance learning programme also takes advantage of the experience provided by the various editions of the Spanish online course taught since 2002.

The materials for the distance modules have been prepared by researchers of renowned international prestige working at the UPF Research Centre on Economics and Health (CRES) and teaching staff of the Department of Economics and Business and the Department of Health Sciences of Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona, Spain), together with other collaborators, all with proven academic and professional experience. The content of the various courses combines the explanation of the methodological foundations with the use of the instruments, based on the publications of the faculty and collaborators and the discussion of case studies taken from the specialized literature.

UPF and the Continuing Education Institute (IDEC) of Pompeu Fabra University provide all the necessary information technology infrastructure and other resources for the smooth running of the course. Taking advantage of the new possibilities offered by the information technologies, this course will be taught entirely online, combining the use of web technology, hypertexts and e-mail to allow continual teacher/participant and participant/teacher interaction.

To provide specialised training in the economics and management of health services and pharmaceutical products (Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics).

The concept of management in the health sector and the pharmaceutical sector is understood in the broadest sense of the term and includes public sector services, centres and services belonging to health care institutions at any level of care, pharmaceutical service providers, agencies for the evaluation of drugs and medical technologies, together with the pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical distributors, insurance companies and consultancy and advisory firms.

The programme is of special relevance for professionals and graduates related to the health sector who are interested in the issues of health economics, pharmacoeconomics, and the design and management of quality programmes.

The programme is aimed especially at these graduates and health sector professionals, and offers an academic training with a high reputation on the market.

Participants are not required to have previous knowledge of economics.

The programme is based on three fundamental characteristics:

1. Rigorous and academic course content approached from the standpoint of economics and management.
2. The use of e-learning methods to convey knowledge, to elicit the acquisition of skills and to encourage learning through the right combination of individual and group work via virtual media.
3. Rigour in both content and working methods and continuous assessment of the knowledge acquired.

On line

This programme is aimed at professionals in the health sector and the pharmaceutical sector who cannot afford the time to attend an on-site course, or who prefer to work primarily through virtual communication. This International Master's Degree in Health Economics and Pharmacoeconomics meets the needs and requirements both of experienced professionals and of recent graduates who wish to increase their knowledge of these areas.

The International Postgraduate Diploma in Health Economics. Modalidad online (DESIOL) is addressed to professionals who, wherever in the world they live, wish to follow a distance course with the characteristics we have outlined above. It is conducted entirely online, and at no time it is necessary to attend face-to-face sessions. The international edition of this programme is conducted entirely in English.

In particular, the programme is designed to complement the training of professionals with management responsibilities and graduates interested in acquiring the necessary skills to take on such responsibilities in:

• Hospitals, clinical laboratories and public and private health centres.
• Public bodies responsible for managing and/or funding pharmaceuticals and health services.
• Private insurance companies.
• Pharmaceutical companies and companies related to the distribution of pharmaceuticals.
• Pharmaceutical and health service management training centres.
• Consultancy and advisory firms related to the health sector, etc.

To date, the Spanish and the International edition of this online training programme has been followed by over 350 participants in several European, African and Latin-American countries.