Research

Research

WHO / Magnum Photos / Paolo Pellegrin
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Background

The field of health policy and systems research (HPSR) seeks to understand and improve how societies organize themselves in achieving collective health goals, and how different actors interact in the policy and implementation processes to contribute to policy outcomes.

By nature, it is interdisciplinary, a blend of economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, public health and epidemiology that together draw a comprehensive picture of how health systems respond and adapt to health policies, and how health policies can shape – and be shaped by – health systems and the broader determinants of health.

HPSR complements but does not replace other types of rehabilitation evidence. Evidence that focuses on models of care, clinical practice guidelines, global burden of disease data is still useful to inform decision-making.

HPSR evidence for rehabilitation is scarce due to lack of awareness, funding, capacity to conduct this type of research, and demand to utilize HPSR evidence for rehabilitation planning. As a consequence, rehabilitation is often excluded in policy and planning for health services in the health sector, resulting in a continued mismatch between the need for rehabilitation and the availability of rehabilitation services. Planning for rehabilitation will continue to be ad hoc and lack effectiveness in terms of allocation of (scarce) resources.

 

 

Objectives

  1. To advocate for the demand and utilization of health policy and systems research evidence for rehabilitation.

  1. To advocate for the widespread generation of high-quality health policy and systems research evidence for rehabilitation.

  1. To advocate for the publication, dissemination, and implementation of health policy and systems research evidence for rehabilitation.

Four people sitting on a table wearing masks working with their laptops. On the background a blackboard with sticky notes.
WHO / Lindsay Mackenzie
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Key messages

A man working in front of a computer. The screen shows a graphic with data

For appropriate monitoring and planning for rehabilitation in the health sector, decision-makers are strongly encouraged to ask for and use the best available health policy and systems research evidence.

A woman and an adolescent taking notes in a piece of paper

Generation of health policy and systems research evidence for rehabilitation requires building research capacity such as researchers, infrastructure, funding, partnerships, metrics.

A boy who lost his right left after stepping on a mine, stands before his family’s home surrounded by sheep

Publication and dissemination of relevant and timely evidence for health policy and systems research is required for strengthening rehabilitation in health systems.