An event co-organized by Health Systems Global and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and co-sponsored by the governments of Japan and Norway
2023 marks the halfway point of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the United Nations (UN) recently described progress towards them as “woefully off track”. As part of an effort to refocus attention on these goals, the UN General Assembly is convening three high-level meetings (HLMs) on health: one on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, one on universal health coverage (UHC), and one highlighting the fight against tuberculosis (TB). Yet, the success of these initiatives hinges on a deep understanding of how our existing health and social structures foster health equity in the context of these overarching goals – an insight to which robust health policy and systems research (HPSR) can make a major contribution.
This special event examined the priorities, interests and opportunities of key actors in the field to support and deploy health policy and systems research to drive progress on health equity and to achieve the health-related goals. It was informed by the discussions at the HLMs and showcased examples of how countries have employed HPSR approaches to identify gaps and find solutions. It was also an opportunity to launch discussions around these topics, which will be continued during the Eighth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research taking place in Nagasaki, Japan in November 2024.
Speakers and discussants
- Helen CLARK, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Former Administrator of UNDP and current Chair of the Board, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, WHO
- Satoshi EZOE, Director of Global Health Strategy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
- John-Arne RØTTINGEN, Ambassador for Global Health, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway
- Norbert NDJEKA, Director of TB Control & Management, Ministry of Health, South Africa
- Ana Beatriz AMAYA, Board Member of Health Systems Global and Associate Professor at Pace University
- Kumanan RASANATHAN, Executive Director, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, WHO
Watch a recording of the event