Dia 1

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Background and aims of the research programme
Prof. Dr. Paul van der Maas
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Netherlands Platform for Global Health Policy and
Health Systems Research

• Tasks
• Advising on international health policy and
  systems issues
• Strengthening global health policy and health
  systems research
• Promoting access to research results
• Promoting national and international links and
  collaboration

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Netherlands Platform for Global Health Policy and
Health Systems Research

• Composition
• Academic and non-academic research institutes
• Ministries of Foreign Affairs, VWS and OCW
• Non-governmental and development organizations
• NWO/WOTRO
• www.globalhealthplatform.nl

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Todays challenges

• Stagnating health indicators in many low-income
  countries (LICs), particularly in sub-saharan
  Africa
• Widening gaps in health status between and within
  countries
• Progress hampered by weak or non-existent health
  systems
• Establishing equitable, accessible and quality
  health systems able to provide essential and
  cost-effective services responsive to real health
  needs

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Health Policy and Health Systems Research

• Production of new knowledge to improve how
  societies organize themselves to achieve health
  goals
• Prime focus is health systems as a whole (6
  building blocks, WHO Framework for action 2007)
• Unit of analysis policies, organizations and
  programs, taking into account political and
  social structures
• ? human biology, medical/clinical or
  pharmaceutical research

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Aims of the research programme

• Contribute to better health through strengthening
  health systems in LICs
• Strengthen the research capacity in LICs
• Strengthen the collaboration in The Netherlands
  and utilization of Dutch research capacity

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Dutch policy context

• Cabinet Agenda 2015 realization of the MDGs.
  (2007)
• Our common concern investing in development in a
  changing world. (2007)
• Choices and opportunities on HIV/AIDS and SRHR in
  foreign policy. (2008)
• Science for international development. (WOTRO
  2007-2010 Strategy Plan)

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Themes of the research programme

• Central strategic challenge
• Enhancing equitable access to health in quality
  health systems
• Four inter-linked and mutually dependent themes
• Delivery of essential services
• Financial and human resources
• Governance
• Global influences and impact on health systems

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Key theme 1 Delivery of essential services

• Research challenge
• To show in which way essential and quality
  health services, identified in the local context,
  can achieve higher coverage and accessibility
• To show how improved health services benefit the
  general population and societal groups in LICs

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Key theme 2 Financial and human resources

• Research challenge
• To support understanding what sustainable
  financing means in LICs, and how this can be
  strengthened in the local context
• To show what and how labour market and human
  resource interventions in LICs lead to better
  performing health systems

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Key theme 3 Governance

• Research challenge
• To determine the impact of governance and
  accountability structures on the performance of
  health services
• To show how better governance, accountability
  and decision-making mechanisms promote
  inter-sectoral and community engagement in
  health, and improve overall performance of health
  systems

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Key theme 4 Global influences and impact on
health systems

• Research challenge
• To contribute to understanding the impact of
  international policies, programs and projects on
  country-level health systems, and how good
  programming can improve health systems in LICs.
• To show how trade and industry influences health
  system performance, and which strategies can be
  implemented to create win-win situations in LICs

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Expected Outcomes of the Research Programme

• To make a real contribution to the body of
  knowledge in the health policy and health systems
  research domain through high quality publication
  of research results
• AND
• To make a real contribution to lasting
  improvement of health systems in participating
  LICs
• AND
• To strengthen research capacity in the HP and
  HSR domain