An event organized by the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and co-sponsored by the governments of Chile, Japan and Norway
Health systems research can make a major contribution to improving service delivery and the effectiveness of health policy in improving health outcomes, including the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) health targets. But translating research into policy and practice is a complex and often challenging process. Too much research does not contribute to health impact, even as health systems research is an explicitly applied field.
Barriers such as mismatches in time horizons and scales, competing political and ideological interests, and gaps in trust and communication can impede effective integration of research findings. Various strategies have been explored to bridge these gaps – including involving decision-makers in the research process, establishing institutions for evidence synthesis and brokering, and encouraging researchers to engage in policy entrepreneurship. When research effectively informs policy and practice, the potential to improve health outcomes is profound.
Coming soon after the launch of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research’s new 2024–28 strategy, Aiming for impact, this event on the side-lines of the 77th World Health Assembly brought together senior policy-makers and researchers to consider:
- What are the barriers to health systems research having more impact on service delivery and policy development and implementation?
- What are the essential ingredients needed to ensure that health research and learning have overcome these barriers to have a meaningful and lasting impact?
- How can global agencies best support research and learning in countries through their programmes to have the greatest contribution to achieving the health SDG targets?
Participants included:
- Sandro Galea, Dean and Professor, Boston University School of Public Health
- Hajime Inoue, Assistant Minister for Global Health and Welfare, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan
- Cathrine Marie Lofthus, Secretary General, Ministry of Health and Care Services, Norway
- Diah Saminarsih, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, cisdi, Indonesia
- Jeanette Vega, Former Minister of Social Development and Family, Chile
- Jeremy Farrar, Chief Scientist, World Health Organization
- Aku Kwamie, Unit Head, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization
- Robert Marten, Unit Head, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization
- Kumanan Rasanathan, Executive Director, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization