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Health systems research –
the purposeful generation of knowledge that enables societies
to organize themselves to improve health outcomes and
health services – is rapidly emerging as one of
the most dynamic and complex areas of research for health.
Awareness is growing among politicians, policymakers,
health-care providers and researchers that the evidence
base to support the theory and practice of strengthening
health systems is not strong, especially in low- and middle-income
countries. Moreover, the scientific foundations for this
type of research are in need of significant
development and improvement.
Calls for more and better health systems research are
not new, but they have recently been given a boost. In
November 2008, the High Level Task Force on Scaling up
Research and Learning for Health Systems recommended:
1) a high profile agenda of research, 2) the engagement
of policymakers in this agenda,
3) stronger country and global capacity for research,
and 4) increased financing for health systems research.
This four-point agenda was presented to the Global Ministerial
Forum on Research for Health where it was unanimously
endorsed in the Bamako Call to Action on research for
health. Among the Task Force’s recommendations was
a global symposium on health systems research in 2010.
The first symposium will be dedicated to improving the
scientific evidence needed by health policymakers
and practitioners to inform their decisions related to
accelerating universal health coverage. Achieving and
sustaining universal health coverage requires attention
to a broad range of issues that are central to health
systems performance. This includes drawing on the six
interdependent health system building blocks – finance,
workforce, services, technologies, information, and governance
– and understanding how policies and programmes
from within and beyond the health sector can be developed
and implemented effectively, efficiently, and equitably. |
