A key characteristic of Latin American countries has been the association between extreme inequality and intense poverty, along with the inability of previous social and economic policies to alleviate these conditions. In recent decades, fiscal adjustment policies proposed by international financial agencies have led to monetary stability, but by fo-cusing solely on economic growth, they have i...

BACKGROUND In rural health and other health service development contexts, there is frustration with a reliance on pilot projects as a means of informing policy and service innovation. There is also an emerging recognition that existing research methods do not draw lessons from the failed sustainability that characterises many of these pilots and demonstration projects. DISCUSSION This article...

BACKGROUND Published practical examples of how to bridge gaps between research, policy and practice in health systems research in Sub Saharan Africa are scarce. The aim of our study was to use a case study approach to analyse how and why different operational health research projects in Africa have contributed to health systems strengthening and promoted equity in health service provision. ME...

the application of equiframe in the analysis of sexual and reproductive health policies by ivanova et al to a new thematic area, their selection of only some of the core concepts of human rights in health service provision and the addition of new vulnerable groups relevant to the purpose of their analysis, are all very welcome developments. we also applaud their application of equiframe to poli...

BACKGROUND Good governance may result in strengthened performance of a health system. Coherent policies are essential for good health system governance. The overall aim of this research is to provide the best available scientific evidence on principles of good policy related leadership and governance of health related rehabilitation services in less resourced settings. This research was also co...

in response to the international journal of health policy and management (ijhpm)editorial, this commentary adds to the debate about ethical dimensions of compassionate care in uk service provision. it acknowledges the importance of the original paper, and attempts to explore some of the issues that are raised in the context of nursing practice, research and education. it is argued that each of ...

policy capacity focuses on the managerial and organizational abilities to inform policy decisions with sound research and analysis, and facilitate policy implementation with operational efficiency. it stems from a view of the policy process that is rational and positivistic, in which optimal policy choices can be identified, selected, and implemented with objectivity. by itself, however, policy...

BACKGROUND The 2004 Mexico Declaration, and subsequent World Health Assembly resolutions, proposed a concerted support for the global development of health policy and systems research (HPSR). This included coordination across partners and advocates for the field of HPSR to monitor the development of the field, while promoting decision-making power and implementing responsibilities in low- and m...