Assessing capacity for health policy and systems research in low and middle income countries*
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Assessing capacity for health policy and systems research in low and middle income countries* Miguel A Gonzalez Block*1 and Anne Mills1,2 Address: 1Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organisation. CH 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland and 2Department of Health Economics and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK Email: Miguel A Gonzalez Block* - [email protected]; Anne Mills - [email protected] * Corresponding author
Published: 13 January 2003 Health Research Policy and Systems 2003, 1:1
Received: 20 December 2002 Accepted: 13 January 2003
This article is available from: http://www.health-policy-systems.com/content/1/1/1 © 2003 Gonzalez Block and Mills; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article: verbatim copying and redistribution of this article are permitted in all media for any purpose, provided this notice is preserved along with the article's original URL.
Abstract Background: As demand grows for health policies based on evidence, questions exist as to the capacity of developing countries to produce the health policy and systems research (HPSR) required to meet this challenge. Methods: A postal/web survey of 176 HPSR producer institutions in developing countries assessed institutional structure, capacity, critical mass, knowledge production processes and stakeholder engagement. Data were projected to an estimated population of 649 institutions. Results: HPSR producers are mostly small public institutions/units with an average of 3 projects, 8 researchers and a project portfolio worth $155,226. Experience, attainment of critical mass and stakeholder engagement are low, with only 19% of researchers at PhD level, although researchers in key disciplines are well represented and better qualified. Research capacity and funding are similar across income regions, although inequalities are apparent. Only 7% of projects are funded at $100,000 or more, but they account for 54% of total funding. International sources and national governments account for 69% and 26% of direct project funding, respectively. A large proportion of international funds available for HPSR in support of developing countries are either not spent or spent through developed country institutions. Conclusions: HPSR producers need to increase their capacity and critical mass to engage effectively in policy development and to absorb a larger volume of resources. The relationship between funding and critical mass needs further research to identify the best funding support, incentives and capacity strengthening approaches. Support should be provided to network institutions, concentrate resources and to attract funding.
Background Health policy and systems research (HPSR) is increasing in prominence in low and middle income countries, stimulated by social and political pressure towards health system equity and efficiency. Yet the institutional capacity to fund and produce quality research and to have a positive impact on health system development has been little examined
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