scholarly journals FUTURE OF HEALTH POLICY & SYSTEMS RESEARCH: TRANSITIONING FROM MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS FOR IMPROVING HEALTH

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 223-225
Author(s):  
Anam Feroz ◽  
Imran Naeem Abbasi ◽  
Wafa Aftab ◽  
Fauziah Rabbani
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Policy Coherence ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Exciting Opportunity ◽  
Strengthening Health System ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sustainable Developmental Goals

The importance of health policy and systems research (HPSR) for strengthening health systems is widely recognized. However, availability and uptake of research evidence for health systems to formulate evidence informed policies is challenging. The transition from Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) represents a new global promise to health by encompassing a broader range of economic, environmental, and social pillars of sustainable development. The adoption of the 2030 agenda offers an exciting opportunity for strengthening health system governance. The integration of HPSR is essential for the fulfillment of SDGs through the collaboration of multiple sectors and policy coherence. Various innovative strategies have been recognized to build strong partnerships between researchers, policy-makers, and academicians to highlight the role of HPSR in realizing and achieving SDGs. Multilateral and bilateral organizations working in the field of HPSR can play a facilitatory role to inform the development of healthcare reforms through strategic engagement among a variety of stakeholders.

scholarly journals Understanding the implications of the Sustainable Development Goals for health policy and systems research: results of a research priority setting exercise

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bennett ◽  
Nasreen Jessani ◽  
Douglas Glandon ◽  
Mary Qiu ◽  
Kerry Scott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Health Policy And Systems

Abstract Background Given the paradigmatic shift represented by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as compared to the Millennium Development Goals - in particular their broad and interconnected nature - a new set of health policy and systems research (HPSR) priorities are needed to inform strategies to address these interconnected goals. Objectives To identify high priority HPSR questions linked to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Methods We focused on three themes that we considered to be central to achieving the health related SDGs: (i) Protecting and promoting access to health services through systems of social protection (ii) Strengthening multisectoral collaborations for health and (iii) Developing more participatory and accountable institutions. We conducted 54 semi-structured interviews and two focus group discussions to investigate policy-maker perspectives on evidence needs. We also conducted an overview of literature reviews in each theme. Information from these sub-studies was extracted into a matrix of possible research questions and developed into three domain-specific lists of 30–36 potential priority questions. Topic experts from the global research community then refined and ranked the proposed questions through an online platform. A final webinar on each theme sought feedback on findings. Results Policy-makers continue to demand HPSR for many well-established issues such as health financing, human resources for health, and service delivery. In terms of service delivery, policy-makers wanted to know how best to strengthen primary health care and community-based systems. In the themes of social protection and multisectoral collaboration, prioritized questions had a strong emphasis on issues of practical implementation. For participatory and accountable institutions, the two priority questions focused on political factors affecting the adoption of accountability measures, as well as health worker reactions to such measures. Conclusions To achieve the SDGs, there is a continuing need for research in some already well established areas of HPSR as well as key areas highlighted by decision-makers. Identifying appropriate conceptual frameworks as well as typologies of examples may be a prerequisite for answering some of the substantive policymaker questions. In addition, implementation research engaging non-traditional stakeholders outside of the health sector will be critical.

scholarly journals Rethinking collaboration: developing a learning platform to address under-five mortality in Mpumalanga province, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 418-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia D’Ambruoso ◽  
Maria van der Merwe ◽  
Oghenebrume Wariri ◽  
Peter Byass ◽  
Gerhard Goosen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Health Priorities ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Systems Research ◽  
Learning Platform ◽  
Institutional Infrastructure ◽  
The Right

Abstract Following 50 years of apartheid, South Africa introduced visionary health policy committing to the right to health as part of a primary health care (PHC) approach. Implementation is seriously challenged, however, in an often-dysfunctional health system with scarce resources and a complex burden of avoidable mortality persists. Our aim was to develop a process generating evidence of practical relevance on implementation processes among people excluded from access to health systems. Informed by health policy and systems research, we developed a collaborative learning platform in which we worked as co-researchers with health authorities in a rural province. This article reports on the process and insights brought by health systems stakeholders. Evidence gaps on under-five mortality were identified with a provincial Directorate after which we collected quantitative and qualitative data. We applied verbal autopsy to quantify levels, causes and circumstances of deaths and participatory action research to gain community perspectives on the problem and priorities for action. We then re-convened health systems stakeholders to analyse and interpret these data through which several systems issues were identified as contributory to under-five deaths: staff availability and performance; service organization and infrastructure; multiple parallel initiatives; and capacity to address social determinants. Recommendations were developed ranging from immediate low- and no-cost re-organization of services to those where responses from higher levels of the system or outside were required. The process was viewed as acceptable and relevant for an overburdened system operating ‘in the dark’ in the absence of local data. Institutional infrastructure for evidence-based decision-making does not exist in many health systems. We developed a process connecting research evidence on rural health priorities with the means for action and enabled new partnerships between communities, authorities and researchers. Further development is planned to understand potential in deliberative processes for rural PHC.

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