Health policy and systems research: building momentum and community
نویسندگان
چکیده
Editorials 851 In October 2014, nearly 2000 people from 125 countries shared and debated issues that are critical to improving the performance of health systems, at the 1 Such research was barely visible on the global health agenda until 1996, when the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Ad Hoc Committee on Health Research identified health systems research as an important but neglected field. 2 Now, as shown by the success of three global symposia, governments worldwide clearly recognize the need for such research to build resilient health systems. A wide range of public health disasters – including the current Ebola epidemic – have drawn attention to the devastation that can rapidly develop in countries with weak health systems. The three global symposia, WHO's development of a strategy on health policy and systems research in 2012 3 and the 2013 world health report on research for universal health coverage 4 represent some important milestones in the field. Within the last decade, many collaborations and partnerships have emerged and dedicated entities – such as the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and the professional society Health Systems Global – have been developed. The participation of the United States of America's Global AIDS Coordinator in the Cape Town symposium is one indicator that health policy and systems research is valued by actors who have historically identified with specific disease areas. Such actors are now turning to systems sciences and applying the methods of health policy and systems research to overcome the common challenges of implementation, integration and sustainability. Although political engagement will be critical to the strengthening of health systems, it must go beyond those decision makers who act at national level. Most changes to health systems occur at subnational levels because it is district health officers and senior programme managers who are largely responsible for the implementation of national policies. Policy and systems research – including implementation research – must be able to respond to the needs of the system. The recently published Statement on advancing implementation research and delivery science called for greater engagement of implementers. 5 While the health-systems landscape of today is a stark contrast to that of the 1980s, the resources available for health policy and systems research remain less than those available for many other areas of health research. 6 There is a particular need for efficiency, through alignment, coordination and collaboration. Thematic working groups within the …
منابع مشابه
Improving Maternal and Child Healthcare Programme Using Community-Participatory Interventions in Ebonyi State Nigeria
In Nigeria, the government is implementing the Free Maternal and Child Health Care Programme (FMCHCP). The policy is premised on the notion that financial barriers are one of the most important constraints to equitable access and use of skilled maternal and child healthcare. In Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria the FMCHCP is experiencing implementation challenges including: inadequate human re...
متن کاملDemystify False Dilemmas to Speak About Corruption in Health Systems: Different Actors, Different Perspectives, Different Strategies; Comment on “We Need to Talk About Corruption in Health Systems”
The call of the editorial of the International Journal of Health Policy and Management regarding the “Need to talk about corruption in health systems” is spot on. However, the perceived difficulties of why this is so should be explored from an actor’s perspective, as they differ for government actors, donors and the research community. In particular, false dilemmas around definition pr...
متن کاملUnpacking “Health Reform” and “Policy Capacity”; Comment on “Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity”
Health reform is the outcome of dispersed policy initiatives in different sectors, at different levels and across time. Policy work which can drive coherent health reform needs to operate across the governance structures as well as the institutions that comprise healthcare systems. Building policy capacity to support health reform calls for clarity regarding the nature of such policy work and t...
متن کاملPutting Management Capacity Building at the Forefront of Health Systems Strengthening; Comment on “Management Matters: A Leverage Point for Health Systems Strengthening in Global Health”
The current limited focus on management in global health activities is highly problematic given the amounts of financial and human resources that are pouring into health system strengthening interventions and the complexity of clinical operations across settings. By ensuring that public health and healthcare practitioners in domestic and international settings receive management training in the...
متن کاملOpening the Policy Window to Mobilize Action Against Corruption in the Health Sector; Comment on “We Need to Talk About Corruption in Health Systems”
Corruption in the health sector has been a “dirty secret” in the health policy and international development community, but recent global activities point to a day when it will no longer be neglected as a key determinant of health. To further explore next steps forward, this commentary applies the Kingdon’s multiple-streams framework (MSF) to assess what opportunities are available to mobilize ...
متن کاملConstraints to Applying Systems Thinking Concepts in Health Systems: A Regional Perspective from Surveying Stakeholders in Eastern Mediterranean Countries
Background Systems Thinking (ST) has recently been promoted as an important approach to health systems strengthening. However, ST is not common practice, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This paper seeks to explore the barriers that may hinder its application in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) and possible strategies to mitigate them. Methods A survey consistin...
متن کاملذخیره در منابع من
با ذخیره ی این منبع در منابع من، دسترسی به آن را برای استفاده های بعدی آسان تر کنید
عنوان ژورنال:
دوره 92 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2014