Engaging decision-makers to embed research in policy-making and implementation was the subject of an editorial featured in the February 2017 issue of the WHO Bulletin.
Traditionally, the philosophy has been that researchers should generate knowledge and practitioners and policy-makers should use it. But this does not take into account the realities of policy-making. The editorial notes that unless research is relevant to specific health systems, the evidence that it generates can be dismissed by policy-makers.
Through embedded research, which is a process where researchers and decision-makers jointly identify and undertake the research, the more likely the evidence generated will be responsive to their needs. This will ensure that the evidence generated is integrated into policy-making for stronger health systems.
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WHO bulletin 2017