Regional initiatives to promote evidence-informed policymaking Dr. Reijo Salmela WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet) Regional rapid response mechanism to support policymaking Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies Overview

Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet)

Regional rapid response mechanism to support policymaking

Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

What is Promote systematic use of evidence in policy-making in low and middle-income countries. Promotes partnerships at country level between policy-makers, researchers and civil society to facilitate policy development and implementation through use of the best scientific evidence available. EVIDENCE-INFORMED POLICY NETWORK

Promote systematic use of evidence in policy-making in low and middle-income countries.

Promotes partnerships at country level between policy-makers, researchers and civil society to facilitate policy development and implementation through use of the best scientific evidence available.

EVIPNet's origin WHO HQ Advisory Committee on Health Research 58 th World Health Assembly 2005 Mexico Summit 2004

EVIPNet – 58th WHA Resolution May 2005 […] calls for establishing or strengthening mechanisms to transfer knowledge in support of evidence-based public health care delivery systems and evidence-based health-related policies.  Translates into EVIPNet

[…] calls for establishing or strengthening mechanisms to transfer knowledge in support of evidence-based public health care delivery systems and evidence-based health-related policies.

1. Research competes with many other factors in the policymaking process 2. Research isn’t valued as an information input [Climate for research use] Research isn’t relevant [Production] Research isn’t understandable [Translation] a. Research isn’t communicated effectively [Push] b. Research isn’t available when policymakers need it and in a form that they can use [Facilitating pull] c. Policymakers lack mechanisms to prompt them to use research in policymaking [Pull] d. Policymakers lack forums where policy challenges can be discussed with key stakeholders [Exchange] Addressing the challenges in linking research to policy

1. Research competes with many other factors in the policymaking process

2. Research isn’t valued as an information input [Climate for research use]

Research isn’t relevant [Production]

Research isn’t understandable [Translation]

a. Research isn’t communicated effectively [Push]

b. Research isn’t available when policymakers need it and in a form that they can use [Facilitating pull]

c. Policymakers lack mechanisms to prompt them to use research in policymaking [Pull]

d. Policymakers lack forums where policy challenges can be discussed with key stakeholders [Exchange]

Network’s main functions Acquire, assess & adapt evidence to establish a robust knowledge base Provide decision makers with a "rapid response" and "one stop shopping" for high quality evidence Enhance interactive linkages among producers & users of research to promote the uptake of evidence Provide training

Acquire, assess & adapt evidence to establish a robust knowledge base

Provide decision makers with a "rapid response" and "one stop shopping" for high quality evidence

Enhance interactive linkages among producers & users of research to promote the uptake of evidence

Provide training

EVIPNet building blocks Research synthesis & Policy briefs Capacity development & empowerment Country dialogues (safe harbor) Monitoring and evaluation - Development of new methodologies Country teams and regional and global support structures

EVIPNet Asia 7 teams in five countries: [China (Beijing, Shandong, Sichuan), Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Viet Nam) Steering group: overall planning and strategic guidance Secretariat, annual coordination meetings Joint trainings Websites Interactive communication between health policy makers and researchers Support from WHO, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) and governments

7 teams in five countries: [China (Beijing, Shandong, Sichuan), Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Viet Nam)

Steering group: overall planning and strategic guidance

Secretariat, annual coordination meetings

Joint trainings

Websites

Interactive communication between health policy makers and researchers

Support from WHO, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (AHPSR) and governments

EVIPNet as global initiative EVIPNet Asia 2005 EVIPNet Africa 2006 EVIPNet America 2007 Global steering group Global resource group Monitoring and evaluation of EVIPNet

EVIPNet Asia 2005

EVIPNet Africa 2006

EVIPNet America 2007

Global steering group

Global resource group

Monitoring and evaluation of EVIPNet

What is systematic review? Systematic reviews are summarizing the best available evidence. A systematic review is a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyse data from the studies that are included in the review.

Systematic reviews are summarizing the best available evidence.

A systematic review is a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select and critically appraise relevant research, and to collect and analyse data from the studies that are included in the review.

Structured process involving several steps: Well formulated question Comprehensive data search Unbiased selection and abstraction process Critical appraisal of data Synthesis of data Structured report Regularly updated Systematic review process

Structured process involving several steps:

Well formulated question

Comprehensive data search

Unbiased selection and abstraction process

Critical appraisal of data

Synthesis of data

Structured report

Regularly updated

What is policy brief? The EVIPNet policy briefs research syntheses in a user-friendly format (1:3:25) involve systematic and transparent efforts to link global evidence from systematic reviews and local evidence offer evidence informed policy options

The EVIPNet policy briefs

research syntheses in a user-friendly format (1:3:25)

involve systematic and transparent efforts to link global evidence from systematic reviews and local evidence

offer evidence informed policy options

Health Systems Information for Policy Makers in Asian Countries Report to the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization http://www.who.int/alliance-hpsr/en/

Aims of the feasibility study To explore interest by health systems policy makers in a regional rapid response mechanism To explore research capacity in region To identify possible models for a health system information mechanism

To explore interest by health systems policy makers in a regional rapid response mechanism

To explore research capacity in region

To identify possible models for a health system information mechanism

Policy makers want large range of health systems evidence Structure : public-private mix, decentralisation, services distribution, comparative studies Funding : sources, health insurance, user-pays, budget allocation, payment mechanisms Human resources : workforce structure, skillmix, training, management, professional development, incentives

Structure : public-private mix, decentralisation, services distribution, comparative studies

Funding : sources, health insurance, user-pays, budget allocation, payment mechanisms

Human resources : workforce structure, skillmix, training, management, professional development, incentives

Policy makers want large range of health systems evidence (2) Regulation : technology assessment, prices, safety and quality, patient safety Information : technology, performance indicators, clinical guidelines, patient information Population health : disease prevention & control, disease patterns, ageing populations Health service delivery : service planning, needs of poor, evaluation

Regulation : technology assessment, prices, safety and quality, patient safety

Information : technology, performance indicators, clinical guidelines, patient information

Population health : disease prevention & control, disease patterns, ageing populations

Health service delivery : service planning, needs of poor, evaluation

Findings and conclusions Both policy makers and researchers generally support the idea of a regional mechanism Varying levels of research capacity and expertise across the region Need and demand for reader-friendly products Need for increasing engagement with policy makers through “knowledge brokers” Response is usually not rapid Information mechanisms offer information and (global) evidence, never offer specific advice since policy-making is country-specific

Both policy makers and researchers generally support the idea of a regional mechanism

Varying levels of research capacity and expertise across the region

Need and demand for reader-friendly products

Need for increasing engagement with policy makers through “knowledge brokers”

Response is usually not rapid

Information mechanisms offer information and (global) evidence, never offer specific advice since policy-making is country-specific

Policy makers in Asia and Pacific have less access to relevant evidence-based information in health systems Increase capacity for country specific analysis Need for comparative analysis and information on health systems Rapid change in the Asia Pacific Region: e conomic, demographic, disease patterns and rising health care costs Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

Policy makers in Asia and Pacific have less access to relevant evidence-based information in health systems

Increase capacity for country specific analysis

Need for comparative analysis and information on health systems

Rapid change in the Asia Pacific Region: e conomic, demographic, disease patterns and rising health care costs

Country health systems profiles (HiT); systematic approach allowing country comparisons Policy briefs Dissemination, including policy dialogue Capacity building in health systems analysis & policy making Strengthened research network in health systems Functions of an Observatory

Country health systems profiles (HiT); systematic approach allowing country comparisons

Policy briefs

Dissemination, including policy dialogue

Capacity building in health systems analysis & policy making

Strengthened research network in health systems

Current status and plans Regional Committee request for development of Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies First planned products are a few HiTs and policy briefs Quality products important for long term credibility Focus on functions, institutional WHO should facilitate and work with partners

Regional Committee request for development of Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies

First planned products are a few HiTs and policy briefs

Quality products important for long term credibility

Focus on functions, institutional

WHO should facilitate and work with partners

Thank you!

Thank you!