Dear HIFA colleagues,
We are excited to open this NEW 4-week thematic discussion, here on the HIFA forum from 9th May to 3rd June.
Our focus is: Civil society, evidence and health policy: Can decision-making processes for health systems strengthening and universal health coverage be made more inclusive, responsive and accountable?
For background, see: https://www.hifa.org/news/support-systems-can-decision-making-processes-...
Our aim is to share experience and expertise around this vital issue. In particular, we shall collectively provide rich and diverse input to help inform a major 3-year research project called SUPPORT-SYSTEMS, which brings together the University of Ghana, the Kenyan Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and HIFA, funded by the Norwegian Research Council.
In this first week we invite you to consider Question 1:
Q1 WHAT DOES CIVIL SOCIETY PARTICIPATION IN HEALTH POLICY MEAN? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
We invite all comments on this question (and indeed any aspect of civil society, evidence and health policy).
Here are two points from the research protocol that may be helpful to frame our discussion:
1. 'Many definitions of civil society exist, but most define civil society to represent a social sphere separate from both the state, the market and the family (Greer et al., 2017)' For the purpose of this project we use the term 'civil society' widely to include no just NGOs and faith-based organisations, but also community groups, patient associations, and professional associations (and more). We are especially interested in civil society at the national, subnational and local levels, although we recognise that international civil society organisations can also play a major role in national policymaking.
2. 'Participation of civil society in decision-making processes about UHC is viewed to have multiple benefits for the process and outcomes of policy choices.' WHO. (2021). Voice, agency, empowerment: Handbook on social participation for universal health coverage. https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1356347/retrieve
We look forward to hear your thoughts and reactions. Please send your message by email to: hifa@hifaforums.org
Invite others to join HIFA here: www.hifa.org/joinhifa
With thanks, Neil
Joint Coordinator, HIFA SUPPORT-SYSTEMS
https://www.hifa.org/projects/new-support-systems-how-can-decision-makin...
Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Global Coordinator HIFA, www.hifa.org neil@hifa.org
Working in official relations with WHO
