GRIP-Health Aims and Vision

The GRIP-Health study aims to improve the practice of evidence-informed health policymaking through the application of political and institutional analysis.

We explore how, why, and when national ministries of health use research evidence in the process of policymaking, and especially which political and institutional factors influence the utilisation of relevant scientific evidence.

By better understanding these factors, GRIP-Health aims to create a more politically informed response to the use of evidence in health policy within national governments and associated bodies.

We believe that the best way to achieve long term sustainable change in evidence use is to build the capacity of ministries of health to establish institutional practices that can ensure improved evidence utilisation within the realities of local political contexts.

GRIP-Health Themes

GRIP-Health is based on the idea that addressing this challenge requires improved understanding of the political nature of policymaking. Indeed, ‘getting research into policy and practice’ (GRIP) hinges on two main factors:

• The nature of political contestation of the health topic: Some health policies have financial implications for powerful players (e.g. tobacco or pharmaceutical companies); others are highly moralised (e.g. sexual health); while others may affect minority or marginalised populations with little political power. 

• The institutional structures supporting evidence utilisation: This can include formal advisory bodies (e.g. NICE, in the UK), but also the established rules or procedures governing the use of evidence in policy processes. This so-called ‘evidence advisory system’ provides the mechanisms through which governments and Ministries of Health function in their identification and use of evidence. 

Read about our research methods and approach here, or meet the team here