Health policy and systems research agendas in developing countries

Area of Science:

• Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR)
• Global Health
• Health Economics

Background:

• Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) is crucial for guiding national health investments and performance.
• Understanding international research trends and priorities is essential for effective HPSR.
• The HPSR portfolio is influenced by internal research system capacities and external factors like stakeholder priorities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and quantify current research themes and agendas in developing countries.
• To analyze the underlying influences shaping Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) priorities.
• To compare research topics, perceived priorities, and funding allocations.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 176 institutional partners of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research in low and middle-income countries (2000-2002).
• Content analysis of HPSR topics, beneficiaries, and health problems addressed.
• Analysis of funding sources and project initiation to identify research agendas across different income groups.

Main Results:

• "Sector analysis," "Disease burden," and "Management and organization" were the most frequent HPSR topics.
• "Disease burden" research received more funding than perceived priorities indicated.
• Donor agendas closely aligned with overall research topic rankings, with notable differences across country income levels.

Conclusions:

• A conceptual framework can identify and contrast HPSR needs, projects, and actor agendas.
• Research gaps exist when comparing current topics with health system strengthening challenges.
• Coordinated global efforts and national consensus-building are needed to align diverse research agendas with health system objectives.