Health Care Systems
UndergraduateLTU-PHE3HCS2026
Course information for 2026 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 22 Feb 2026
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 2 Mar 2026
- Price from
- $1,192
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Health Care Systems
About this subject
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Compare, contrast and evaluate the rationale and aims of different types of health systems.
- Critically review the political, social and economic forces that contribute to health care choices at the national level.
- Analyse the ways in which the orientation and structure of the health care system relate to health care practice.
- Identify, analyse and evaluate challenges faced by health care systems.
- Measuring health system performance
- Structure of the Australian health care system
- Medicare, public hospitals, primary health care
- The health care workforce and rural health
- The private health sector and private health insurance
- Pharmaceuticals and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
- Complementary and alternative medicines
- Health economics at the system level
- Health reform and health system sustainability
- Comparing health systems: United States of America, India and the United Kingdom
In this subject you will gain familiarity with the health care systems used around the world and will compare and contrast underlying rationales, policies and aims in the context of societal needs and resource demands. The interface between health and politics, economics and social structure will be considered and you will analyse the comparative advantages and disadvantages of approaches to health care provision. Topics to be covered include public and private systems, decentralised health care, national contributory plans such as Medicare, and social insurance, among others. Case studies will be drawn from health care systems around the world.
- Three short answer essay-style responses to online discussion questions (covering weeks 1-6) worth 10% for each; 1,500-words equivalent total (30%)
- One 1-hour online test (1,000-words equivalent) (30%)
- One individual assignment (1,250-words) (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
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- QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 17
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 16
Entry requirements
Prior study
You must either have successfully completed the following subject(s) before starting this subject, or currently be enrolled in the following subject(s) in a prior study period; or enrol in the following subject(s) to study prior to this subject:
one of
- LTU-PHE1SDH-Social Determinants of Health
- LTU-PHE1UHW-Understanding Health And Wellbeing
- LTU-PHE1005-Principles of Public Health
Please note that your enrolment in this subject is conditional on successful completion of these prerequisite subject(s). If you study the prerequisite subject(s) in the study period immediately prior to studying this subject, your result for the prerequisite subject(s) will not be finalised prior to the close of enrolment. In this situation, should you not complete your prerequisite subject(s) successfully you should not continue with your enrolment in this subject. If you are currently enrolled in the prerequisite subject(s) and believe you may not complete these all successfully, it is your responsibility to reschedule your study of this subject to give you time to re-attempt the prerequisite subject(s).
Others
Past La Trobe University students who have previously completed PHE1AHS (Australia's Health Care System), HIM3AHS (Australia's Health Service) and PHE4AHS (The Australian Health Care System) are ineligible to enrol in this subject.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-HSC-DEG
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Health Sciences
UndergraduateLAT-AHS-DEG
Bachelor of Psychological Science
UndergraduateLAT-PYS-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
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