Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MCT4001

 
TITLE European Health Care Law

 
UM LEVEL 04 - Years 4, 5 in Modular UG or PG Cert Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Media, Communications & Technology Law

 
DESCRIPTION Health care law has arguably evolved due to, in part, developments of European Union (EU) law and judgments emanating from the European Court of Human Rights. The study-unit shall focus upon EU law, as well as some of the pertinent jurisprudence of the Council of Europe, which is applicable to health care, health systems and health policy. Topics to be discussed during the inter alia study-unit include, the competence/s as regards health and health care, standards of quality and safety in healthcare, pharmaceutical law (medicinal products for human use), and patients' rights in cross-border health care.

Study-unit Aims:

1. To introduce students to the jurisprudence emanating from the EU and the Council of Europe which relates to health and health care;
2. To enable students to understand the interface between supranational law and domestic law pertinent to health and health care;
3. To instruct students on the basic components of European health care law;
4. To furnish students with a concrete understanding of European health care law, duly laying the groundwork for further study and research.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a. Outline constructively, within the context of a written assignment, some of the contribution/s of the jurisprudence of the Council of Europe, including the European Court of Human Rights, to health care law;
b. Describe and evaluate, in a written assignment, the role of the EU in the context of health and health care;
c. Outline, in a written assignment, selected topics within EU law which relate to health care.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a. Engage in analytical discussion, within a written assignment, concerning the competence and role of the EU within the field health care;
b. Begin constructively using, within a written assignment, EU law as it applies to and affects health care, health care professionals and patients, duly analyzing said topics from the perspective of (European) health care law;
c. Begin interpreting and analyzing health care practice and policy in light of EU law and/or the jurisprudence emanating from the Council of Europe.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- A De Ruijter, EU Health Law & Policy: The expansion of EU power in public health and health care (Oxford: Oxford University Press – 2019).
- H Nys, European Union Health Law (Alphen aan den Rijn: 3rd Edn., Kluwer Law International – 2022).
- A den Exter (Ed.), European Health Law (Antwerp: Maklu – 2017).
- T K Hervey, C A Young, L E Bishop (Eds.), Research Handbook on EU Health Law and Policy (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar – 2017).
- T K Hervey, J V McHale, European Union Health Law: Themes and Implications (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press - 2015).
- E Mossialos, G Permanand, R Baeten, T K Hervey (Eds.), Health Systems Governance in Europe: The role of European Union Law and Policy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press - 2010).

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Students taking this study-unit need to have a background in law.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Daniel Bianchi

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit