Health Economics Online Course | NPTEL IIT Roorkee | Prof. Pratap Mohanty
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 360 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Elective |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Economics & Social Sciences |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Postgraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 24 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Why Study Health Economics? Unlocking the Intersection of Health and Economy
In an era where healthcare challenges are at the forefront of global and national policy, understanding the economic forces that shape health systems is no longer a niche skill—it's a necessity. Health Economics provides the critical toolkit to analyze healthcare demand, optimize resource allocation, evaluate policies, and strive for equity. For professionals and students in economics, public health, life sciences, and management, this knowledge is indispensable for driving meaningful change.
Recognizing this need, the National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL), a flagship initiative of the IITs, offers a groundbreaking course designed to equip you with both theoretical depth and practical expertise. Led by a distinguished expert from IIT Roorkee, this course stands out as a unique learning opportunity.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Pratap C. Mohanty
This course is guided by the extensive knowledge and experience of Prof. Pratap C. Mohanty, an Associate Professor of Economics at IIT Roorkee. With over 16 years in academia, research, and training, Prof. Mohanty brings a wealth of real-world insight.
His expertise is both deep and broad:
- Academic Pedigree: Holds an M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
- Diverse Experience: Has taught at prestigious institutions including Delhi University, IIFT New Delhi, and IIM Indore.
- Research Focus: Actively works on pressing Indian socio-economic issues like healthcare challenges, medical pluralism, and gender justice. His government-sponsored project on traditional medicine is recognized as a unique study.
- Public Intellectual: A regular columnist for leading national dailies like The Hindu, The Indian Express, and The Times of India.
- Trusted Trainer: Has trained Indian Foreign Service (IFS) probationers, senior IPS/ITS officers, and is an expert instructor for IAS probationers at LBSNAA, Mussoorie.
Prof. Mohanty is also a seasoned NPTEL instructor, known for his popular courses on data handling, ensuring a pedagogy that is both rigorous and accessible.
Course Overview: A Deep Dive into Health Economics
This 12-week postgraduate-level course is meticulously structured to transform you from a novice to a proficient analyst in Health Economics.
What Makes This Course Unique?
- India & Developing World Focus: Moves beyond Western models to emphasize issues and policies relevant to India and similar economies.
- Hands-On Data Analysis: Integrates real, large-scale datasets (NSSO, NFHS, IHDS, WHO) and practical training in statistical software (STATA and DEAP).
- Blend of Theory & Practice: Covers foundational theories while diving into parametric/non-parametric estimations, productivity analysis, and economic evaluations of real programs.
- Comprehensive Syllabus: Aligned with the curriculum of top global institutions and seminal textbooks in the field.
Who Should Enroll?
The course is designed for an interdisciplinary audience:
- Students of MA/M.Sc. Economics, BA/B.Sc. Economics
- Professionals and students in Public Health, Medical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Biotechnology
- B.Tech students interested in the economics of systems
- Analysts and consultants in healthcare, research organizations, and consulting firms (e.g., KPMG, Deloitte, PwC)
Prerequisite: A basic understanding of Microeconomics at the undergraduate or postgraduate level.
Detailed 12-Week Course Curriculum
| Week | Core Topics |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Introduction to Health Economics, Key Concepts, Arrow's Perspective. |
| Week 2 | Demand in Healthcare: Utility, Price Elasticity, Grossman Model. |
| Week 3 | Supply in Healthcare: Physicians, Hospitals, Production Costs. |
| Week 4 | Equity and Health: Theory, Financing, Distribution, Measurement. |
| Week 5 | Financing, Insurance, and Information Economics (Moral Hazard, Adverse Selection). |
| Week 6 | Behavioral Health Economics: Prospect Theory, Nudges, Time Inconsistency. |
| Week 7 | Economics of Health Systems: Financing Mechanisms (Tax, Insurance) Globally. |
| Week 8 | Theory of Economic Evaluation: Cost-Benefit, Cost-Effectiveness, Cost-Utility Analysis. |
| Week 9 | Applied Economic Evaluation: QALYs, DALYs, Costing, Markov Models. |
| Week 10 | Health Efficiency: Productivity, Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with DEAP Software. |
| Week 11 | Health Databases & Handling: Micro/Macro Data Sources, Econometric Modeling in STATA. |
| Week 12 | Public Health & Policies: Global Disparities, Indian Health System, Reforms & Challenges. |
Key Learning Outcomes and Industry Relevance
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Analyze the demand and supply dynamics of healthcare markets.
- Measure and evaluate equity in health financing and outcomes.
- Understand the economics of health insurance and behavioral influences on health choices.
- Conduct full economic evaluations (CBA, CEA, CUA) of health programs and policies.
- Perform productivity and efficiency analysis of healthcare units using DEA.
- Handle and analyze large-scale health datasets using professional software (STATA & DEAP).
- Critically assess the Indian health system and its policy challenges.
This skill set is directly applicable in health consultancies, research organizations, public policy think tanks, international NGOs, and corporate consulting firms, making you a valuable asset in the growing health analytics sector.
Enroll Today and Shape the Future of Healthcare
Prof. Pratap C. Mohanty's Health Economics course on NPTEL is more than just an online class; it's a comprehensive journey into the engine room of healthcare decision-making. Whether you aim to influence policy, conduct cutting-edge research, or advance your career in health management, this course provides the foundational knowledge and practical tools to succeed.
With its unique focus on Indian contexts, hands-on software training, and instruction from one of the field's leading voices, this program is an unparalleled opportunity to gain expertise that is both academically sound and immediately applicable.
Take the next step in your professional and academic journey. Enroll in the Health Economics course on the NPTEL platform and start decoding the economics of health for a better tomorrow.
Enroll Now →