Analysing Disrupted Health Systems (ADHS)
If you are a health professional working in or with countries in crisis, working as health personnel in government institutions, NGOs, UN agencies and humanitarian organisations or as an independent consultant, then this course is intended for you.



This 10-day residential training programme for health professionals focuses on the analysis of health systems in countries affected by, or recovering from, protracted crisis. It is organised jointly with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Participants will be equipped to analyse disrupted health systems in complex emergencies, discuss humanitarian aid and politics, human rights policies, and strategies and plans of key actors.
This course can be taken as independent course or as part of the Master in International Health.
“It was a great opportunity for me to have attended this course. I find the ADHS course a complete one where theory is put in practice and where field experiences enrich both participants and facilitators.Key among the lessons I drew from this course is that most of our health systems especially in the developing world are either disrupted or are possible candidates for disruption. I therefore recommend this course for all those that require knowledge and skills in improving health systems the World over.”
“The Analyzing Disrupted Health System (ADHS) course was a practical and useful opportunity for me. It was interesting to analyze, compare and share the experience with other health professionals as well as friendly facilitators. I learned about the gap which was similar with other contexts that experiencing or experienced in a fragile states. I learned that there is no same health system among countries neither in developing nor in developed countries. Each health system is unique with its own challenges but there are some basic concepts in terms of quality of care, effectiveness, efficiency of the health services delivery and etc. We discussed very technical and practical solutions and came across with adaption of useful conceptual frameworks in certain situation. I highly recommend this course to test your ability and sharing of knowledge with others”
The ADHS course was well organized and very much relevant to the people working in fragile states. The amalgamation of students all around the globe, interactive session and their rich experience in field provided a great learning opportunity. The facilitation, presentation and group work was superb. I found that despite of challenge and fragility one can still find a way out for working. One has to follow a logical sequence for analyzing the disrupted health system of a country. I would highly recommend the course to people working with states, donor agencies working in fragile state!”
"As Emergency Manager working for WHO in North East Nigeria, The ADHS course was very relevant to the Humanitarian and Development Nexus, the course was tailored towards the New ways of Working (NWOW) in the ensuring one had a clear understanding of analyzing the disrupted health Systems in various countries.
I also gained a lot of exposure to and from other colleagues from different parts of the world which I found very valuable. After attending the course, I started to apply the skills that I learnt. This has contributed greatly to the end results of projects I work on. I was able to organize an adapted ADHS Nigeria Specific training for Nigeria in Lagos. I can recommend this course (ADHS) to other colleagues working in disrupted health systems all over the world."
"It has been an illuminating and a life-changing experience, particularly the international group of students, all with huge experience and expertise. Fantastically well taught with presentations from leading
experts in their field. A very positive learning atmosphere with conversations and laughter which took the whole group together."
Studying at KIT has expanded my horizon to address public health concerns in a different perspective. It has allowed me to integrate policy, economics, governance, social determinants and health circumstances to find solutions for a better sustainable health system. The ADHS course was a great opportunity to exchange experiences from experts working worldwide, to understand diversity, create atmospheres to strengthen our roles in our work environment. As a Palestinian living in a chronic disrupted system, this course has provided me with insight to address when working on the policy level.
"The ADHS course has been a great opportunity to interact and share experiences and knowledge with professionals from different countries, with different backgrounds working in different sectors and in different contexts.
Analysing disrupted health systems together with participants from the public sector, NGOs, and donors under the guidance of experienced facilitators has increased my understanding of the complexities behind emergencies and crisis, and my awareness on policies and strategies that could be effective in other relevant contexts."
"The skills acquired in the course have been very relevant to me as public health practitioner. Health systems form the fundaments of any countryin the world. Having spent the last few years coordinating and managing health programs in developing nations, I feel that the course equipped me with the necessary skills to be able to make decisions as a health manager.
Having come from Kenya and worked extensively in the region, I feel that this course helped building my knowledge in disrupted health systems. As I strive to contribute in building a functional and sustainable health system in Kenya I have a wider view of how health systems interact with all the other functions of governance."
Content
Protracted crises, mainly those labelled ‘complex emergencies’, have a severe impact on health systems and all their constituent parts such as policy development, planning, human resources, financing, management, infrastructure and support systems.
Unreliable and incomplete information hampers sound decision making, while fast evolving conditions increase uncertainty. Health professionals often have limited experience analysing the major features and distortions of disrupted health systems. Learning from the successes and failures in health sectors of countries facing similar crises can be difficult because lessons that could be relevant are not always well-documented. This course focuses on analysing disrupted health systems, reviewing their main components, identifying key weaknesses, and discussing policy and strategy options that have been effective in relevant contexts. Group work exercises around country case studies help participants to apply concepts and approaches to realistic situations.
Objectives
At the end of this course participants will be able to:
Course Content
The following subjects are reviewed during the course:
Learning methods
This course is geared towards adult learning and uses participatory approaches as much as possible. A variety of methodologies are used including lectures, discussion, group work, case studies and exercises. Participants will be given reading material in advance and will be required to complete 28 hours of preparatory work. Participants will also be able to discuss topics raised in the daily sessions during optional evening forums. Participants will conduct an in-depth analysis of the health sector in a specific conflict affected country through the study of selected, context specific documents before the course, group work during the course, and a presentation of main findings to colleagues and trainers at the end of the course.
Assessment
For participants who wish to be examined a paper or exam can be provided. TropEd students are required to take an exam at the end of the course.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by tropEd. It can be taken as an advanced module for the Master in International Health programme organised by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health.
Application
Admission criteria
Application procedure
The complete application is due two months before the start of the course.
Please upload your application online.
The following documents should be uploaded:
What we expect from your motivation letter:
Please indicate in your motivation letter why you want to follow this specific course, why you want to follow the course at KIT Amsterdam, what do you expect to learn and how you will apply your newly gained competencies from the course in your work, what kind of benefits will it bring to your future career, etc. Describe a relevant problem you have experienced in the last two years that you would like to discuss during this specific course. Your motivation should be about ½-1 page. Please do not repeat your CV again.
This course can be taken on its own or as part of the Master in International Health (MIH) programme.
Early Bird registration
Early Bird registration and payment applies when payment is made before 1 May 2024.
Please note that you will receive a response on your application within 4 weeks.
FAQ Online Application System
Do you have a question about our Online Application System? Then you can find the answer in our FAQ Online Application System:
Practical information
Location
Classes are held at KIT in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Accommodation
There is a severe shortage of student accommodation in Amsterdam and participants are advised to contact KIT for information. KIT will endeavour to assist participants in their search for housing.
Visa requirements
Citizens of most EU or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries do not need a visa to enter the Netherlands. Visit the Nuffic website for the latest information on visa requirements.
Participants from other countries must obtain a short-stay visa (for up to three months) through the Netherlands embassy or consulate covering the applicant’s country. Applicants will need a letter of admission to the course and proof of sponsorship or sufficient funds to cover the course fee, travel and accommodation costs. Applicants should take into account that in some countries this procedure can take several months.
Insurance requirements
Course participants and accompanying dependents are required by Dutch law to have health, accident and third party insurance. Unless their current insurance policy covers their stay abroad, participants must insure themselves and their dependents in the Netherlands. Dutch insurance companies offer reasonable rates to foreign students.
Funding
The arrangement of financial support to cover all study costs is the responsibility of the applicant. KIT does not offer financial support or scholarships for short courses. For different funding options, visit our scholarships pages.
European Credits
The European Credit Transfer System (EC) facilitates the transfer of course credits between different institutions of the same academic level. A course comprising 28 hours of formal teaching and private study is equivalent to one EC credit point.
Accreditation
This course is also accredited for the Master in International Health programme organised by tropEd, a network of European institutions for higher education in international health.
Why study at KIT?






Up-to-date approach to complex public health issues
Practice-oriented
Exchange between disciplines
Interactive Education
Development of personal and professional competencies
Network building
Participants from diverse backgrounds and countries
Personal tutoring
Teaching by highly qualified specialists
Positively reviewed by tropEd
KIT: international centre of excellence in international health and development
Accredited by NVAO