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Chapter 23 - Using Health Research for Evidence-Informed Decisions in Health Systems in L&MICs

from Section 2 - Transforming Health Systems: Confronting Challenges, Seizing Opportunities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 December 2022

By
Kabir Sheikh ,
Aku Kwamie  and
Abdul Ghaffar
Edited by
Sameen Siddiqi ,
Awad Mataria ,
Katherine D. Rouleau  and
Meesha Iqbal
Sameen Siddiqi
Affiliation:
Aga Khan University
Awad Mataria
Affiliation:
World Health Organization, Egypt
Katherine D. Rouleau
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Meesha Iqbal
Affiliation:
UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston
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Summary

Decisions taken by stakeholders at all levels of health systems can benefit from the use of different types of evidence drawn from heterogeneous research fields – including epidemiology, clinical and basic biomedical research, and health policy and systems research (HPSR). However, out of these diverse forms of evidence, HPSR is relatively underused and under-funded. Challenges associated with the use of HPSR in health systems in low- and middle-income countries (L&MIC) include the lack of opportunity and resources, the need for greater capacity for the generation and use of evidence, and fundamental problems around how the research agenda is framed. Evidence informed decision-making in L&MICs can be improved by better alignment of HPSR with health system needs, institutionalizing the use of HPSR evidence, and strengthening individual capacities to generate and use HPSR evidence. Several global, national and local-level initiatives have helped take strides in these areas, but more work and investments are needed to strengthen the use of appropriate evidence, especially HPSR evidence, in health systems.

Keywords

Health systemsHealth policy and systems researchEmbedded researchEvidence to policyHealth system needsDemand driven researchEvidence based medicineEvidence based health policyEvidence based policy makingEvidence informed decision making Informed decisionsResearch evidenceL&MIC
Type
Chapter
Information
Making Health Systems Work in Low and Middle Income Countries
Textbook for Public Health Practitioners
 , pp. 354 - 367
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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