Evaluation of Health Policies and Programs
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the theoretical and methodological knowledge required to analyse and evaluate public interventions in the healthcare sector from an economic perspective. The course develops students' ability to relate health needs, public policy objectives, and budget constraints by introducing the main approaches to economic evaluation and impact evaluation.
Expected learning outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
- describe the objectives, instruments, and rationale of public interventions in the healthcare sector;
- analyse the main methods of economic evaluation and impact evaluation applied to healthcare policies and programmes;
- critically interpret economic evaluations and impact evaluations applied to the healthcare sector;
- identify the data required and select the most appropriate evaluation method according to different evaluation questions;
- compare different approaches to economic evaluation and impact evaluation, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and fields of application.
- describe the objectives, instruments, and rationale of public interventions in the healthcare sector;
- analyse the main methods of economic evaluation and impact evaluation applied to healthcare policies and programmes;
- critically interpret economic evaluations and impact evaluations applied to the healthcare sector;
- identify the data required and select the most appropriate evaluation method according to different evaluation questions;
- compare different approaches to economic evaluation and impact evaluation, highlighting their strengths, limitations, and fields of application.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The course covers the following topics:
· Public interventions in healthcare: economic rationale, policy objectives, market failures, and the role of public intervention.
· Evaluation methods for healthcare programmes and policies.
· Methods for economic evaluation:
o Cost analysis
o Cost-effectiveness analysis
o Cost-utility analysis
o Decision models
o Cost-benefit analysis
· Methods for impact evaluation:
o Randomized controlled trials
o Matching
o Difference-in-differences
o Regression discontinuity design
Further information regarding the course syllabus and reading materials will be published on the MyAriel course website during the teaching period. The syllabus published on MyAriel shall be considered the official version for examination purposes. Students are therefore encouraged to consult the MyAriel course page regularly, as it is the primary means of communication between the teaching staff and students.
· Public interventions in healthcare: economic rationale, policy objectives, market failures, and the role of public intervention.
· Evaluation methods for healthcare programmes and policies.
· Methods for economic evaluation:
o Cost analysis
o Cost-effectiveness analysis
o Cost-utility analysis
o Decision models
o Cost-benefit analysis
· Methods for impact evaluation:
o Randomized controlled trials
o Matching
o Difference-in-differences
o Regression discontinuity design
Further information regarding the course syllabus and reading materials will be published on the MyAriel course website during the teaching period. The syllabus published on MyAriel shall be considered the official version for examination purposes. Students are therefore encouraged to consult the MyAriel course page regularly, as it is the primary means of communication between the teaching staff and students.
Prerequisites for admission
No specific prerequisites are required.
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures, practical exercises, case-study discussions, and group work aimed at applying the methods presented during the course. Teaching activities are designed to encourage active student participation, foster critical thinking, and develop the ability to apply economic evaluation and public policy evaluation methods.
Teaching Resources
The following texts constitute the required reading for the exam for both attending and non-attending students:
1. Drummond M., Sculpher M., Torrance G., O'Brien B. & Stoddart G. (2010-terza
edizione) "Metodi per la valutazione economica dei programmi sanitari", Il Pensiero
Scientifico Editore
2. Martini A., Mo Costabella L., Sisti M (2006) "Valutare gli effetti delle politiche pubbliche: metodi e applicazioni al caso italiano", Progetto Valutazione (you can find it online)
3. Additional articles assigned by the teacher
1. Drummond M., Sculpher M., Torrance G., O'Brien B. & Stoddart G. (2010-terza
edizione) "Metodi per la valutazione economica dei programmi sanitari", Il Pensiero
Scientifico Editore
2. Martini A., Mo Costabella L., Sisti M (2006) "Valutare gli effetti delle politiche pubbliche: metodi e applicazioni al caso italiano", Progetto Valutazione (you can find it online)
3. Additional articles assigned by the teacher
Assessment methods and Criteria
Learning will be assessed through a written examination consisting of multiple-choice and open-ended questions.
The multiple-choice questions are designed to assess students' knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical and methodological concepts covered in the course. The open-ended questions assess students' ability to apply the knowledge acquired, critically analyse cases and problems, and use the appropriate disciplinary terminology.
For the first two examination sessions, attending students may benefit from an overall assessment that takes into account both their exam performance and the scores obtained in group assignments.
Assessment will be expressed on a 30-point grading scale and will be based on the following criteria:
· knowledge of the topics covered;
· ability to apply economic evaluation and policy evaluation methods;
· critical reasoning and analytical skills;
· appropriate use of disciplinary terminology;
· clarity and completeness of the answers to the open-ended questions.
The multiple-choice questions are designed to assess students' knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical and methodological concepts covered in the course. The open-ended questions assess students' ability to apply the knowledge acquired, critically analyse cases and problems, and use the appropriate disciplinary terminology.
For the first two examination sessions, attending students may benefit from an overall assessment that takes into account both their exam performance and the scores obtained in group assignments.
Assessment will be expressed on a 30-point grading scale and will be based on the following criteria:
· knowledge of the topics covered;
· ability to apply economic evaluation and policy evaluation methods;
· critical reasoning and analytical skills;
· appropriate use of disciplinary terminology;
· clarity and completeness of the answers to the open-ended questions.
Professor(s)