MBA in Healthcare Management in Hong Kong

Healthcare varies around the world in many ways. For one, countries spend dramatically different amounts – even adjusted for the size of their gross domestic products. The United States, for instance, spends more that 15% of its GDP on healthcare, whereas European Union countries average little more than half that (8%). In spite of that funding differential, however, the US does not get generally better overall health outcomes than do the European Union (or other industrialized) countries.

Countries also vary in how they fund healthcare expenditures. Some, such as Canada and the United Kingdom, have national health services. The government hires doctors and nurses and runs hospitals. Other countries, such as Denmark and Sweden, have single payer systems. Healthcare is provided privately, but payment is publicly funded. The government distributes tax money for healthcare but does not actually deliver healthcare services. Yet other countries, such as France and Germany, have multi-payer health insurance systems. Universal health insurance is provided through regulated health funds; hospitals and medical practices are privately provided.

Most healthcare masters programs are one year in length but otherwise differ in many ways. Some are orientated toward administration; others toward policy. Their institutional settings also vary: healthcare masters programs can be offered in business schools, public administration schools, or schools of health (or human ecology). Some courses are meant for those entirely new to the field; others for those already trained in one medical field or another. Few programs are designed to be all things to all people (and of those that are, even fewer succeed). Thus, it is critical you know what focus will best suit your needs.