Driving Smart Policies for UHC: Creating Incentives for Good Research to Inform Policy
Why does the vast majority of health systems research never make it into the hands of policy makers, or end up being used to formulate smart policies? What can we do to fix the situation?
On November 17, at the First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Montreux, Switzerland, Results for Development Institute (R4D) convened a group of experts and policy makers at a grand hall plenary to explore these questions. Moderated by R4D Managing Director Robert Hecht, the session brought together a diverse group of thought leaders and senior policy makers including Lyn Squire, the former president of the Global Development Network; Ximena Aguilera, of the University of Desarollo; Muhammad Paté, the Executive Director/CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Nigeria; Irene Agyepong, Regional Director, Ghana Health Service, and Julio Frenk, Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health and former Minister of Health of Mexico.
To watch a live webcast of the presentation click here.
During Lyn Squire's remarks, he proposed a system of innovative incentives to drive stronger connections between research, policy design, and implementation, and o achieve Universal Coverage and other broad health sector goals. A portion of donor funds would be focused on (1) supporting research that is demanded by policy makers, with the policy-makers playing the role of commissioning the research to answer their most pressing policy issues related to UHC, and on (2) giving priority to financing the implementation of UHC policies and programs that are based on policy analysis and evidence.
In the lively discussion that followed Squire’s presentation, panelists shared their experiences in meeting this challenge of linking research to policy. The complexity of policy making, including the many stakeholders it involves and the pressure of time to quickly implement reforms, emerged as a key discussion point. Furthermore, the panel and audience discussed the cultural differences between researchers and policy makers and importance of bridging these gaps through intermediaries.
Julio Frenk, the dean of the Harvard School of Public Health, brought the session to a close with several insights into the challenges presented. Drawing on his experience as both a researcher and policy maker, he stressed the importance of knowledge and experience sharing at a global level, and as well as the need to build institutions and individuals that can play this critical role of creating a virtuous circle between policy makers and researchers as many countries strive to meet the challenge of achieving universal health coverage.
