Health Plus

This elective provides an overview of health journalism, by making sense of research reports and clinical studies, examining the pros and cons of public and private health, discussing the coverage of outbreaks, epidemics, endemics and pandemics, examining the new phenomenon of packaged healthcare, including the rising incidence of lifestyle diseases like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. At the same time, poverty-related diseases like malaria, malnutrition, TB, gastroenteritis, and occupational diseases will be covered, along with social issues related to organs' trade, infanticide, sex selection and HIV/AIDS. The students will learn about the controversies surrounding patent protection and human protection, new developments in medical technology, patients' rights and government health policies. In addition, there will be information on traditional medicine and on mental health. As part of the course work, there will be field visits to hospitals, student presentations and written exams.