Harvard School of Public Health
2nd Annual Workshop:
Creating and Using National
Health Accounts for Health
Finance Reform
March 19 – 30, 2001
Stowe, Vermont
USA
Department of Population and International Health
and
Center for Continuing Professional Education
PURPOSE
Throughout the world, nations are increasingly aware of the importance of
the financial dimension of health care systems. The amount of money
available for health and health care, the way those funds are organized,
and the way they are used are significant factors determining health
system outcomes in terms of health status, equity, financial protection, and
people's satisfaction.
Surprisingly, most countries lack reliable and timely data on health
spending. They often depend on out-of-date and aggregated data from
only the government and social insurance sectors. Many countries do not
know how much is spent in the private sector or how funds flow through
the health care system.
A critical first step in addressing this gap is for countries to develop
National Health Accounts (NHA). NHA provide an internationally tested
and proven method for describing and monitoring the overall financing of
the health care system.
To enable health system managers to better plan, implement, and use
NHA, the International Health Systems Group along with the Center for
Continuing Professional Education at Harvard is offering an intensive
two-week workshop on Creating and Using National Health Accounts for
Health Finance Reform. The workshop will provide a solid overview of
health financing issues and recent developments with reform strategies for
lower income countries. In addition, the program will provide training in
the international "state-of-the-art" on what is NHA, how it can be
designed to meet a country's needs, how to organize and collect health
expenditure data according to the NHA framework, and how to use the
results to analyze different health policy issues. The focus is on adapting
the emerging international standards for NHA to the needs of the lower
and middle income nations.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The workshop is designed for health policy planners in low and middleincome countries and the transitional economies. Participants should be
those who develop and supervise NHA work in their countries or senior
technical analysts on NHA teams. Economists and health policy
researchers and specialists who use NHA data or who may advise
governments, international organizations, or private sector groups and
who want to get "up to speed" on the latest developments in NHA should
also attend. Background in health economics and finance is desirable.
Course Director
Peter Berman, Ph.D.
Professor of Population and International Health Economics, HSPH, and Director,
International Health Systems Group
Core Faculty
Alessandro Magnoli, Ph.D.
Health Economist
Harvard School of Public Health
Ravindra Rannan-Eliya, M.D.
Institute for Policy Studies
Sri Lanka
Claudia Corra, M.A., M.S.
Research Specialist
Harvard School of Public Health
Invited Guest Faculty
Jean-Pierre Poullier
Organizing Health Systems
World Health Organization
Daniel Waldo
Director
Information Methods Group
Health Care Financing Administration
William Hsiao, Ph.D.
K.T. Li Professor of Economics
Harvard School of Public Health
Jack Langenbrunner
World Bank
THE INTERNATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEMS GROUP (IHSG)
IHSG is a research, training, and technical assistance program at the Harvard
School of Public Health. Dr. Peter Berman, IHSG Director, has been a leader in
the development and application of NHA methods to the problems of low and
middle-income countries. Dr. Berman and IHSG staff developed “National
Health Accounts,” a software program for training and data analysis. With
support from a variety of international organizations, especially USAID via the
Data for Decision Making and Partnerships for Health Reform projects, the
group has worked on NHA in over 30 countries and is currently collaborating
with major international organizations on global strategies to develop NHA as a
basic tool for health system analysis.
COURSE TOPICS
The curriculum of the workshop includes:
♦
Overview of health financing issues and what NHA can contribute
♦
Health expenditure estimation: boundaries, concepts, classifications
and definitions
♦
Collect and analyze NHA data in developing countries
♦
The use of NHA to address priority health policy issues such as equity
in spending, the impact of specific diseases like HIV/AIDS, resource
allocation to priority programs, and monitoring debt relief results
♦
Project and evaluate the effects of health financing reforms
♦
Communicate results to policy makers
♦
The use of NHA in international comparisons
♦ Recent advances in global development of health accounting
TEACHING METHODS
The method of instruction for the course will be divided between lectures,
presentations, teaching cases, group projects and individual study. A typical
day will begin with lectures and presentations in the morning. In the
afternoon, participants will work in groups on projects related to the topics
discussed in the morning session.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS
WILL HAVE GAINED:
♦
Increased understanding of health care finance issues as related to
health sector reform
♦
Knowledge of detailed NHA concepts including standard definitions
and classifications used by the OECD and other international
organizations
♦
Familiarity with "National Health Accounts v. 2.0" -- a dedicated
software program for organizing NHA data
♦
Skills to design a NHA study, develop complex data collection
techniques, and make “best practice” estimates from missing or poor
information
♦
Effective approaches for communicating research findings to senior
policy officials
♦
Broader appreciation for the role of NHA in analyzing health system
performance and in evaluating reform strategies
COSTS
Workshop Package:
US$ 3,800.00
Accommodations Package: US$ 2,400.00
Total: US$ 6,200.00
The Workshop Package includes tuition, course materials, mandatory health insurance
and computer fees.
The Accommodations Package includes a private sleeping room with private bath, three
meals per day and use of the conference center’s meeting and recreational services. This
package covers thirteen nights, Saturday, March 17th – Thursday, March 29th. Should
you need to stay into the weekend, you can individually reserve additional nights at the
hotel at the same reduced price. Please note that we have negotiated a very competitive
price for your accommodations and purchase of the Accommodations Package is
mandatory. Should you choose not to partake of all three meals each day, you will not be
refunded for the meal’s value.
You or your funding agency will be responsible for airfare, transportation fees to and
from the airport, any meals and drinks, including alcoholic beverages, not included in the
accommodations package, and incidentals.
We can assist you with arranging
transportation from the airport to the conference center (about a 35-minute drive).
Burlington, Vermont has the nearest airport with significant scheduled service.
Financial Assistance may be obtained from your employer or a funding organization.
Applicants are encouraged to make these contacts. Suggested organizations are the
World Bank, USAID (United States Agency for International Development), SIDA
(Swedish International Development Authority) and the World Health Organization.
Please note that Harvard University and the School of Public Health do not provide
scholarships or financial assistance for workshops.
Location
The location of our workshop is the Stoweflake Resort & Conference Center in Stowe,
Vermont. The Stoweflake is newly renovated and has a wide variety of fitness
equipment and recreation activities and two restaurants located on site. Stowe is a
charming town located in the heart of the picturesque Green Mountains in the State of
Vermont. Shops, restaurants and other recreational facilities are within walking distance
of the Stoweflake. In addition, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the great out- doors with
popular winter sports such as, skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, skating and snowmobiling.
The month of March is a beautiful time in this area amongst the snow covered mountains
and at the peak of Vermont’s maple sugaring season. The temperatures can range
between 30°– 40° F (-1°– 4°C) in the day and 20°–30° F (-7°– -1°C) at night.
VISAS
Applicants are responsible for obtaining visas. You should apply for an appropriate visa
at your nearest United States Embassy or Consulate. Since you are not required to be in
Vermont beyond the period of the workshop, you will not need a special student visa to
attend the program. If you plan to visit another country before returning home, you
should arrange to obtain the appropriate visas before you leave home. It can be difficult
and time-consuming to obtain a visa in the United States while you are attending the
program.
APPLICATION
Please complete and forward the enclosed application, a recent CV and a
personal statement outlining why it would be beneficial for you to attend this
workshop to the address below. Please submit your application no later than
January 26, 2001 as space is limited. Applications are reviewed on a rolling
basis. You should receive information regarding your acceptance within two
weeks of submitting your application. If you do not, please contact our office.
Please note that in order to guarantee your place in the workshop payment
in full is due by February 9, 2001.
Nerissa Majid, MPH
Training & Development Officer
International Health Systems Group
Harvard School of Public Health
677 Huntington Avenue, Building 1-1210
Boston, Massachusetts 02115 USA
Telephone: 617-432-4515
Fax: 617-432-1323
Email: [email protected]
Internet: www.hsph.harvard.edu/ihsg/ihsg.html
As a matter of policy, Harvard University does not discriminate in the admission of participants on
the basis of race, religion, gender, national origin or handicap. Application by women and members
of minority groups is strongly encouraged.
CREATING & USING NATIONAL HEALTH ACCOUNTS
FOR HEALTH FINANCE REFORM
March 19 – 30, 2001
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
Instructions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Please type or print.
Applicants should provide all information requested.
Applications should be received no later than January 26, 2001
We encourage all applicants to secure their financial sponsorship as early in the application process as
possible.
Name:____________________________________________________ Gender:
Dr./Ms./Mr.
First
Middle
Last
Address:
Country:
Telephone:
Fax:
Email:
English Language Ability
___ English is my native language.
___ My previous training has been in English.
___ A copy of my TOFEL score is enclosed.
___ An English-speaking member of my
organization will certify my ability in English.
Financial Support (please check one)
Please note tuition payment is due in full on or before February 9, 2001.
I will be funding myself:
Upon admission to the course, I will provide evidence of sufficient funds to
cover required fees and living expenses. (Self-funded participants are
financed by funds from personal savings, friends and/or relatives.)
I will be sponsored:
I will provide a letter of commitment from my sponsor detailing the level of
support provided. (Sponsored participants are financed by funds from
agencies, organizations, or employers.)
Agency: ___________________________________________________________________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________________
Telephone:________________________________ Fax: ___________________________________
Contact:__________________________________ Email:___________________________________
Additional Required Information – your application will not be reviewed with out these materials
-
A current curriculum vitae that details your work experience.
A brief statement (250 words) outlining how you would benefit from attending this workshop.
How did you hear about this workshop?
____ A Colleague. His/Her Name:______________________________________________________
____ Professional Association. Name:___________________________________________________
____ On the Internet.
____ Other. Please explain:____________________________________________________________
____
I have a disability that will require an accommodation during the workshop.
I verify that all statements in this application are true and correct.
Signature of Applicant
Date
Please airmail or fax the completed application, curriculum vitae and statement to:
Nerissa Majid, MPH
Training & Development Officer
Harvard School of Public Health
677 Huntington Avenue, Building 1-1210
Boston, Massachusetts 02115 USA
Telephone: 617-432-4515
Fax:
617-432-1323
Email:
[email protected]
Internet: www.hsph.harvard.edu/ihsg/ihsg.html
If you have not heard from us within two weeks of sending this application,
please contact our office.