Let’s be honest: Health Economics and Finance is often the hurdle that trips up even the most dedicated public health and medical students. It’s the point where clinical care meets cold, hard math. You aren’t just talking about saving lives anymore; you’re talking about scarcity, opportunity costs, and resource allocation.
Below is the exam Paper Download link
Past Paper On Health Economics And Finance For Revision
Above is the exam Paper Download link
The secret to passing isn’t just memorizing definitions—it’s understanding how to apply economic theory to a chaotic healthcare system. This is why revising with a structured past paper is non-negotiable. It trains your brain to stop thinking like a clinician and start thinking like a policy analyst.
[Download the Health Economics and Finance Past Paper Here]
Essential Revision Q&A: Master the Fundamentals
Question 1: The Concept of Scarcity and Choice
Q: Why is “scarcity” the foundational problem in health economics, and how does it relate to “opportunity cost” in a hospital setting?
A: Scarcity exists because human wants for healthcare are infinite, but budgets, staff, and hospital beds are finite. Every time a Health Minister chooses to fund a new robotic surgery suite, they are choosing not to fund something else—perhaps a rural vaccination program. That “something else” is the opportunity cost. In your exam, always frame your answers around the trade-offs involved in every financial decision.
Question 2: Market Failure and Information Asymmetry
Q: Why can’t healthcare be treated like a normal “free market” for shoes or smartphones?
A: Because of Information Asymmetry. In a standard market, the buyer and seller have similar information. In healthcare, the doctor (the provider) knows significantly more than the patient (the consumer). This imbalance leads to “Supplier-Induced Demand,” where providers might recommend more tests or procedures than necessary because the patient isn’t in a position to argue.
Question 3: Moral Hazard vs. Adverse Selection
Q: Distinguish between Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection in health insurance.
A: This is a classic exam favorite.
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Adverse Selection happens before the contract. It’s when high-risk individuals (the sick) are more likely to buy insurance than healthy people, potentially bankrupting the insurer.
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Moral Hazard happens after the contract. Once someone is insured, they might take more risks or demand more expensive treatments because they aren’t paying the full “out-of-pocket” cost.
Question 4: Economic Evaluation (CEA vs. CBA)
Q: What is the primary difference between Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA)?
A: It comes down to the units of measurement.
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CEA compares the costs of different interventions to a common clinical outcome (e.g., “cost per life year saved” or “cost per infection averted”).
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CBA converts everything—including the value of a human life—into a monetary value (dollars or pounds). If the financial benefit outweighs the cost, the project is “worth it.”
Pro-Tips for Dominating Your Finance Exam
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Follow the Money: When asked about healthcare systems (Beveridge vs. Bismarck), always identify who pays (taxpayers vs. employers/employees) and who provides the care (public vs. private hospitals).
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The Power of Graphs: If the question mentions “Elasticity of Demand” or “Diminishing Returns,” draw the graph! Examiners love visual proof that you understand the mechanics of the theory.
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Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Know the three dimensions of the “UHC Cube”: Who is covered? Which services are covered? What proportion of the costs are covered?
Ready to Test Your Knowledge?
The difference between a “Pass” and a “Distinction” is often just a few hours of focused practice. Use our provided past paper to simulate exam conditions—set a timer, put away your phone, and see how many of these concepts you can explain without checking your notes.
