Health policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in South East Asia

Objectives and importance of study: The need for sufficient and reliable funding for health policy and systems research (HPSR) has attracted varying responses globally. Countries assisted by the South East Asian Regional Office (SEARO) of the World Health Organization (WHO) together make up one-quar...

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Autores principales: Manu Raj Mathur, Aayushi Gurung, Sakthivel Selvaraj, K Srinath Reddy
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Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Sax Institute 2021
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Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/36c385e561e643debca8e3abf5f771d6
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:36c385e561e643debca8e3abf5f771d62021-11-10T00:57:07ZHealth policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in South East Asia10.17061/phrp31421182204-2091https://doaj.org/article/36c385e561e643debca8e3abf5f771d62021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3142118https://doaj.org/toc/2204-2091Objectives and importance of study: The need for sufficient and reliable funding for health policy and systems research (HPSR) has attracted varying responses globally. Countries assisted by the South East Asian Regional Office (SEARO) of the World Health Organization (WHO) together make up one-quarter of the world’s population. HPSR is not given a high priority in several SEARO countries, so there is a need to understand the barriers and facilitators that influence national HPSR funding. Our study aimed to fill this gap in the literature by studying the barriers to HPSR in five SEARO countries – Republic of Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India – and the key political factors influencing HPSR funding. Study type: Mixed methods. Methods: We conducted an in-depth desk review to obtain a general overview of HPSR in the five SEARO member countries. The review findings were used to frame a discussion guide for semi-structured interviews with key policy makers, health system experts and academics in the intervention countries. During the interviews, we validated the data from the desk review and explored the following key themes: a) the existing health system landscape of the country; b) organisations involved with HPSR; c) the nature of HPSR funding in the country (demand/supply led); d) budgetary allocations for HPSR; e) barriers to HPSR funding; f) measures to strengthen HPSR funding; and g) suggestions for the right mix for future HPSR funding. The study was conducted from October to December 2020. Results: Thailand is the only country among those studied with a well-established institution dedicated to HPSR. India, Sri Lanka, Republic of Maldives and Nepal are still lagging in providing a solid foundation for HPSR. Most of the countries lack a common definition of HPSR and a dedicated stream for HPSR funding. There is also a lack of local capacity to independently lead and conduct HPSR in most of the study countries. Conclusion: We have provided a profile of the existing landscape of health systems in the SEARO member countries and highlighted the determinants of HPSR funding. A common definition and interpretation of HPSR is required, which extends beyond geographical and disciplinary boundaries. There is a need for enhanced core domestic funding along with increased recruitment and availability of HPSR researchers in the study countries.Manu Raj Mathur Aayushi GurungSakthivel SelvarajK Srinath ReddySax Institutearticlehealth policy and systems researchPublic aspects of medicineRA1-1270ENPublic Health Research & Practice, Vol 31, Iss 4 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic health policy and systems research
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
spellingShingle health policy and systems research
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Manu Raj Mathur
Aayushi Gurung
Sakthivel Selvaraj
K Srinath Reddy
Health policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in South East Asia
description Objectives and importance of study: The need for sufficient and reliable funding for health policy and systems research (HPSR) has attracted varying responses globally. Countries assisted by the South East Asian Regional Office (SEARO) of the World Health Organization (WHO) together make up one-quarter of the world’s population. HPSR is not given a high priority in several SEARO countries, so there is a need to understand the barriers and facilitators that influence national HPSR funding. Our study aimed to fill this gap in the literature by studying the barriers to HPSR in five SEARO countries – Republic of Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and India – and the key political factors influencing HPSR funding. Study type: Mixed methods. Methods: We conducted an in-depth desk review to obtain a general overview of HPSR in the five SEARO member countries. The review findings were used to frame a discussion guide for semi-structured interviews with key policy makers, health system experts and academics in the intervention countries. During the interviews, we validated the data from the desk review and explored the following key themes: a) the existing health system landscape of the country; b) organisations involved with HPSR; c) the nature of HPSR funding in the country (demand/supply led); d) budgetary allocations for HPSR; e) barriers to HPSR funding; f) measures to strengthen HPSR funding; and g) suggestions for the right mix for future HPSR funding. The study was conducted from October to December 2020. Results: Thailand is the only country among those studied with a well-established institution dedicated to HPSR. India, Sri Lanka, Republic of Maldives and Nepal are still lagging in providing a solid foundation for HPSR. Most of the countries lack a common definition of HPSR and a dedicated stream for HPSR funding. There is also a lack of local capacity to independently lead and conduct HPSR in most of the study countries. Conclusion: We have provided a profile of the existing landscape of health systems in the SEARO member countries and highlighted the determinants of HPSR funding. A common definition and interpretation of HPSR is required, which extends beyond geographical and disciplinary boundaries. There is a need for enhanced core domestic funding along with increased recruitment and availability of HPSR researchers in the study countries.
format article
author Manu Raj Mathur
Aayushi Gurung
Sakthivel Selvaraj
K Srinath Reddy
author_facet Manu Raj Mathur
Aayushi Gurung
Sakthivel Selvaraj
K Srinath Reddy
author_sort Manu Raj Mathur
title Health policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in South East Asia
title_short Health policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in South East Asia
title_full Health policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in South East Asia
title_fullStr Health policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in South East Asia
title_full_unstemmed Health policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in South East Asia
title_sort health policy and systems research: an inconsistent priority in south east asia
publisher Sax Institute
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/36c385e561e643debca8e3abf5f771d6
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AT ksrinathreddy healthpolicyandsystemsresearchaninconsistentpriorityinsoutheastasia
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