NSC 513
Health Economics
2 Unit(s) (LH 30)
Course Description
At the end of the course the student should be able to:
1. demonstrate an understanding of the concept of health economics and healthcare
financing;
2. explain how demand and supply is applied in healthcare;
3. discuss healthcare financing in Nigeria, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), cost
containment, healthcare cost, budgeting and many others; and
4. discuss the role of the nurse in healthcare financing and NHIS.
Course Outline
Macro and micro economic factors that influence health, illness and health care delivery system.
Concept of health economics. Factors that affect demand and supply of health care services.
Macroeconomic indices that influence the economy and health. The costing of health and nursing
services. Availability and distribution. Cost recovery of services. Healthcare financing and the
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Role of nurses in the National Health Insurance
Scheme.