Quick answer: To write a strong SP404 global health reform essay, answer both halves of the question: name the main obstacles to fairer health systems, then judge which strategies are most likely to work at global or local scale. Use 4–10 good sources, argue a clear position, and balance every claim with its limits.
The SP404 global health reform essay at the University of Galway is worth 70% of the course mark, so it deserves a plan rather than a late-night draft. The full task is on the SP404 essay question page. If you want to see how an extract can be structured, our SP404 essay sample is for reference only and must not be submitted as your own work.
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- What the question really asks
- Where the marks are
- How to approach each part
- Step-by-step plan
- Mark-maximising checklist
- Common mistakes
- FAQs
What the SP404 global health reform essay really asks
The question has two parts, and many students write only the first. Part one asks for the main challenges to reforming health systems so that they meet people’s needs better and more fairly. Part two asks which strategies are most likely to deliver progressive reform, at global or more local scales.
Notice the words “most likely”. That is an invitation to rank and justify, not to list. You are expected to take a position, such as arguing that financing and political economy matter more than technical design, and defend it with evidence.
The word limit is 2,000 words, give or take 10%, excluding references. That is tight for two big questions, so you will need to choose three or four challenges and strategies and treat them in depth. Harvard referencing is preferred, and the brief expects roughly 4–10 good sources including at least two key readings.
Many students lose marks before they type a word, because they treat this as a “summarise the readings” task. It is closer to a short argument: you are asked what stands in the way of fairer health systems and what is most likely to shift them. Readings such as the WHO reform proposals, Labonté’s article and the course material on COVID-19 and inequality are your evidence, not your structure.
Where the marks are
The rubric rewards five things. Use it as a checklist while drafting.
| Rubric criterion | What earns marks | How to show it |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and relevance to course content | Using the module’s own themes and readings | Build around WHO reform proposals and your key readings |
| Depth | Concepts, context, data, policies and examples | One concrete example per section, such as a country or programme |
| Critical, balanced discussion | Strengths and limits of each idea | Add a “however” and a condition to each strategy |
| Coherent structure | A line of argument from problem to remedy | A clear thesis and signposting in the introduction |
| Referencing | Correct, consistent Harvard style | Match every in-text citation to the list and check the format |
How to approach each part of the essay
The introduction
Keep it to around 150–200 words. State why reform is difficult, give your thesis in one or two sentences, and signpost the order of your argument. A good thesis names a cause and a remedy, for example that financing and power relations block reform and that universal, publicly financed primary health care is the most promising response.
The challenges
Pick three that you can support with course material. Strong candidates are financing and commodification, social determinants and inequality, and global governance or donor priorities. Health workforce shortages are a fourth option if you have the space.
For each, define the problem, give evidence, then say why it blocks fairness. The WHO’s World Health Report on financing and the Commission on Social Determinants of Health are useful anchors, and Ronald Labonté’s work on globalisation and health suits the governance section.
The strategies
Choose strategies that answer your challenges. Universal health coverage built on primary health care responds to financing problems. Universalism versus targeting shows you understand design trade-offs. Community participation and decentralisation, as discussed in course material on Kerala, speaks to local scale. Global governance reform covers the larger scale.
Then judge them. Which is most likely to work, under what conditions, and what could go wrong? That judgement is where higher marks sit.
The conclusion
Do not repeat your sections. Answer the question in plain terms, state which strategy you rank first and why, and acknowledge one limit of your own argument.
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A word on examples. Markers like specifics, so name a country, programme or report and say exactly what it shows. Avoid broad claims such as “poor countries lack funding” without saying what that means for access or fairness. If you quote a figure, check it against the original source, and if a source gives only a general finding, write it as a general finding rather than inventing precision.
Step-by-step plan for the SP404 essay
- Reread the question and underline “challenges”, “strategies”, “most likely” and “global or local scales”.
- Skim your key readings first, then read the others with one question in mind: what blocks reform, and what helps it?
- Write a one-sentence thesis before you draft anything.
- Allocate words: about 200 for the introduction, 150 for the conclusion, and the rest split between challenges and strategies.
- Draft the challenge sections, each with a claim, evidence, an example and a limit.
- Draft the strategy sections the same way, ending each with a judgement.
- Write the introduction and conclusion last, so they match what you actually argued.
- Edit down to the word limit, then check references against the list.
Allow time for the boring parts. Referencing, trimming and proofreading usually take longer than students expect, and a clean reference list is a quick, visible way to protect marks. Aim to finish a full draft several days before the deadline so you can leave it, then return to cut weak sentences and sharpen the thesis.
Mark-maximising checklist for your SP404 global health reform essay
- Every paragraph makes one point and links back to the question.
- You use at least two key readings and show you understood them, rather than name-dropping.
- Each challenge has a matching strategy, or you explain why it does not.
- You use evidence from more than one setting, ideally one global and one local example.
- Claims about strategies include conditions and limits.
- Your word count, excluding references, sits between about 1,800 and 2,200.
- Harvard citations are consistent and every source in the text appears in the list.
Common mistakes in a global health reform essay
| Mistake | Why it costs marks | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Describing only challenges | Half the question goes unanswered | Reserve about half the words for strategies |
| Listing sources without arguing | Weak critical discussion | Say what each source proves and what it does not |
| Treating the world as one place | Ignores context and scale | Distinguish global from local, and high-income from low-income settings |
| Praising one policy without limits | Reads as one-sided | Add the conditions under which it works |
| Running over the word count | Penalty risk and a diluted argument | Cut descriptive background first |
Two pain points come up again and again. The first is time: 70% of the module mark rests on one piece, and students often start with reading and run out of days to write. The second is criticality, which is hard to show in 2,000 words. A single sentence beginning “This depends on…” often does more than a paragraph of description.
For a different example of how a structured, evidence-led answer reads in another health topic, see our salt reformulation essay sample.
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FAQs
How many words should the SP404 essay be?
The target is 2,000 words, with a tolerance of about 10% either way, excluding references. Plan your sections around that budget from the start.
How many sources do I need?
The brief points to between 4 and 10 good sources, including at least two key readings. Quality matters more than quantity, so choose sources you can discuss critically.
Which referencing style should I use?
Harvard is preferred. Whatever format you choose, apply it consistently in the text and the reference list.
Do I need to cover both global and local scales?
The question allows either, but a strong essay often uses a global example and a local one. This shows that you understand how context changes what is feasible.
How critical should I be?
Critical means weighing evidence, not attacking everything. For each strategy, say what it achieves, what it needs in order to work, and where it may fall short.
Can I use the sample as my essay?
No. The sample is for reference only and shows structure and style. Your submission must be your own work, written from your own reading and argument.
If you need support at any stage, from planning to final checks, our team can help you shape your SP404 global health reform essay around your own argument.
About the expert
Finn Barry holds an Online MSc in Health Systems from University College Cork. The profile lists health policy, health systems and health economics as the subject focus, covering essays, dissertations and coursework.
