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Module

HSC8008 : Global Health Policy and Medicine Use

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Colin Millard
  • Lecturer: Mr Peter Roderick, Dr Oisín Kavanagh, Professor Allyson Pollock
  • Owning School: Population Health Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module will take a public health and social science perspective to understand global health policy and regulation related to medicine use. It will enable students to describe and understand the global drug supply chain and the role of WHO and national governments in promoting rational medicines and the numerous barriers to access to safe, rational and affordable medicines.

Outline Of Syllabus

•       WHO's approach to governing safe and rational access to medicines
•       International and national regulatory apparatuses
•       The global drug development and supply chain
•       The role of clinical trials in ensuring that medicines are safe and effective
•       National and global pharmacovigilance systems
•       Barriers to access to essential and rational medicines
•       Social and Cultural Aspects of Medical Technologies

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials80:304:00Non-synchronous online pre-recorded lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture71:3010:30Present in person: Interactive teaching session
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture11:001:00Present in person: Interactive teaching session
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion101:0010:00End of module assessment- essay
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion101:0010:00Mid module assessment- small group presentations
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching81:008:00Present in person: Discussion and group work
Structured Guided LearningStructured non-synchronous discussion81:008:00Online Discussion Groups
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study1481:00148:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk10:300:30Present in person: Week 1 - introduction to the module – interactive talk
Total200:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
HSC8006Introduction to Global Health Policy and Medicines Use
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The aim of the module is to develop student knowledge related to a range of issues concerned with the access to safe, effective and appropriate medicines, and medical technologies. This will be achieved through a flexible learning approach using case studies delivered in scheduled learning activities. All scheduled teaching activities will be interactive and students will be encouraged to actively engage with the course material. Question prompts will be used. Small group discussion and exercises will be used with the aim of developing the required analytical skills related to identifying barriers to access. Key readings for each week's lecture will be made available on the VLE and students will be expected to have read these. Each week’s one hour small group teaching sessions where students will have the opportunity to explore in detail an area related to the weekly topics.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay2M802,500 word maximum
Oral Examination2M20Small group 15 min present in person presentation
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The small group presentation will involve a presentation in groups of 3 on material from the first half of the module. This will allow the students to critically engage with the course material, and develop group work and presentation skills. This will be peer assessed, 20% students and 80% module leader.

The essay will be submitted at the end of the module and will require the students to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the course material and show that they are able to critically engage with the topic.

Reading Lists

Timetable