Health Policy and Systems Research in Twelve Eastern Mediterranean Countries: a stocktaking of production and gaps (2000-2008)

Abstract

BackgroundThe objectives of this study are to: (1) profile the production of Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) published between 2000 and 2008 in 12 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR): Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; (2) identify gaps; and (3) assess the extent to which existing HPSR produced in the region addresses regional priorities pertaining to Health Financing, Human Resources for Health and the Role of the Non-State Sector. This is the first stocktaking paper of HPSR production and gaps in the EMR.MethodsArticles indexed on Medline between years 2000 and 2008 for the 12 study countries were selected. A MeSH term based search was conducted using country names. Articles were assessed using a coding sheet adapted for the region which included themes on: Governance Arrangements, Financial Arrangements, Delivery Arrangements, and Implementation Strategies. Identified articles were matched against regional research priorities to assess the extent to which research production aligns with priorities.ResultsA total of 1,487 articles (11.94%) fit the criteria in the coding sheet. Results showed an increase in HPSR production which peaked after 2005. Most identified articles focused on Delivery Arrangements (68.1%), and Implementation Strategies (24.4%). Most HPSR addressed priorities in Human Resources for Health (39%), and some articles focused on Health Financing (12%) and Role of the Non-State Sector (6.1%).ConclusionsDespite global calls for producing and translating HPSR into policy, there are still significant gaps in the EMR. More efforts are needed to produce HPSR and align production and translation with the demand for evidence by policymakers. Findings can help inform and direct future plans and activities for the Evidence Informed Policy Network- EMR, World Health Organization- EMR, and the Middle East and North Africa Health Policy Forum, in addition to being useful for countries that host or are planning to host KT platforms in the region.

Health research institutional mapping: an Eastern Mediterranean Regional perspective

“…We found that most institutions reported undertaking public health research followed by clinical research, and fewer institutions reported undertaking health policy and systems research. This is in line with a previous mapping exercise that showed the low production of health policy and systems research in the Region (8). Most institutions reported having collaborating partners (82%), predominantly national (77%), and to a lesser extent international collaborators (55.4%).…”

“…Recent studies in the World Health Organization (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region have revealed that the performance of health systems research is weak across all sectors, including governance, finance, workforce, medical and other technology, health information and service delivery. Such studies have referred to critical deficits in stewardship and translation of research into policy and practice, and often absence of an identified research agenda based on emerging priorities (6)(7)(8). It should be emphasized that there were prior attempts for health research mapping in the Region, but such studies were not comprehensive and only involved some member states (9)(10)(11), or were of institutional (rather than national) scope (10).…”

Knowledge Translation Platform Increasing Use of Research Evidence in Physical Activity Policy Making - A Case Study in Finland

“…Findings from the study on knowledge platform work are congruent with those previously reported by policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers on evidence-informed policymaking (El-Jardali, Lavis, Ataya, Jamal, Ammar, & Raouf, 2012;Wallace, Byrne, & Clarke, 2012;LaRocca, Yost, Dobbins, Ciliska, & Butt, 2012;El-Jardali, Jamal, Ataya, Jaafar, Raouf, Matta, & et al 2011;Wallace, Nwosu, &Clarke, 2012;Scott, Albrecht, O'Leary, Ball, Hartling, Hofmeyer, & et al 2012;Barwick, Schachter, Bennett, McGowan, Ly, Wilson, & et al 2012). Gaps in research production in relation to priorities of MEC, as well as a lack of skills among research users to acquire, assess, adapt, and use research evidence, were reported to hinder the use of research evidence in policymaking.…”

“…Gaps in research production in relation to priorities of MEC, as well as a lack of skills among research users to acquire, assess, adapt, and use research evidence, were reported to hinder the use of research evidence in policymaking. Similar results have been reported by El-Jardali et al (2011). There is little empirical evidence on effective KT approaches and how KT strategies can be tailored for different contexts and disciplines (Wallace, Nwosu, & Clarke, 2012;Scott et al, 2012;Barwick et al, 2012).…”

Schools of public health in low and middle-income countries: an imperative investment for improving the health of populations?

“…Researchers have significant worth in policymaking forums because they can contribute evidence-based recommendations to policy formulation, modification, implementation, evaluation, and promote awareness of under-represented health issues [52, 109, 110]. Knowledge generation through health and related development research conducted by SPHs in LMICs can empower self-sufficiency for decision-making on policy, prevention and treatment strategies, and resource allocation [76].…”