By Nanuka Jalaghonia (Health Systems Global) and Natasha Salaria (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)
Health Systems Global (HSG) and Health Policy and Planning (HPP), with the support of the the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), are pleased to announce the publication of a Special Supplement – Health Systems Performance in the Political Agenda: Intersectoral Collaboration and Integrative Governance on the Road to Health in all Policies.
This Supplement distills and spotlights some of the rich debates and discussions from the Seventh Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2022) – Health Systems Performance in the Political Agenda: Sharing Lessons for Current and Future Global Challenges. The symposium, held from October 31 to November 4, 2022, was hosted by HSG and organized in partnership with the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research (The Alliance) and a consortium of organizations from the Latin American region, led by Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín, Universidad de Cartagena in Cartagena, Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, Universidad de Santander in Bucaramanga, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and San Ignacio University Hospital in Bogotá.
HSR2022 came at a potentially defining moment as health systems worldwide face tremendous pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging conflicts and the urgent need for collaborative learning in response to shared global threats to health, wellbeing, and social justice. The themes of HSR2022 are essential to advancing Intersectoral Collaboration and Health Systems Resilience, a focus critical to navigating current challenges and shaping resilient, equitable health systems for the future.
This supplement consists of:
- Eight papers presenting original research, accompanied by one editorial
- Papers contribute to the Symposium’s key theme “Health Systems Performance in the Political Agenda: Sharing Lessons for Current and Future Global Challenges” and sub-theme “Intersectoral collaboration and integrative governance on the road for health in all policies”
- Papers present global level, cross-country analysis, as well as studies from the national and local levels
- Papers applying a variety of methods including systematic literature review and qualitative methods such as key informant interviews and document review
Edited by the recently retired co-editor of Health Policy and Planning, Sandra Mounier-Jack, along with newly appointed co-editor-in-chief Lucy Gilson and Section Editors Bruno Marchal and Neil Spicer.
this collection of papers demonstrates the diversity of topics, disciplinary perspectives and research approaches that define the field of Health Policy and Systems Research. The papers offer valuable entry points into broader discussions and debates shaping the field and signal directions for the future evolution of HPSR.
The supplement opens with research on climate and health, advocating for strategic co-financing to leverage the intersecting benefits of health and climate investments. By differentiating between “passive” and “strategic” integration approaches, they propose a framework for cross-sectoral funding coordination, emphasizing the need for monitoring co-benefits to align health with climate adaptation and resilience goals. This focus on multi-sectoral funding models reflects a growing recognition of how combined financing could tackle complex health and environmental challenges.
In Zambia colleagues explore the stalled development of tobacco control policy. Their study, grounded in a collaborative governance framework, reveals that limited trust, siloed approaches and weak intersectoral communication have stifled mutual motivation among stakeholders, impeding progress. To overcome these challenges, the authors suggest that fostering a culture of open dialogue, enhanced information sharing and mutual respect can lay a foundation for sustained policy motivation and collaboration.
Another study addresses intersectoral collaboration within health system resilience during COVID-19, examining Ahmedabad, India, as a case study. Their findings illustrate how the local municipal corporation coordinated across sectors—such as health, engineering, and education—to ensure resource availability, which was critical for resilient health responses. This case underscores the value of proactive, cross-sector partnerships in strengthening health systems’ capacity to manage crises.
Policy engagement in scaling interventions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is also examined, with authors highlighting the facilitators of effective policy engagement across 20 countries. Their research underscores the importance of understanding the policy landscape, building networks of policy champions, and fostering two-way learning, which are essential to translating research into actionable policy change. This paper provides insight into how meaningful policy engagement can support the successful scale-up of NCD interventions.
Another scoping review emphasizes the importance of intersectoral collaboration for strengthening the health workforce as part of broader “Health in All Policies” (HiAP) objectives. Their findings outline a pathway for incorporating health workforce policies into social and economic development agendas, suggesting strategies for robust coordination, multisectoral governance, and transparent financing to advance HiAP goals. The study positions the health workforce as a critical component of achieving cohesive policy alignment across sectors.
The political dynamics of intersectoral action during COVID-19 are also explored in the supplement, authors use the three “I’s” framework—Ideas, Interests, and Institutions—to investigate how political and institutional responses shaped pandemic governance in 16 countries. They identify factors such as political empathy, science acceptance, and public trust as pivotal to effective pandemic response, showing that while intersectoral action is essential, it must be accompanied by political commitment to achieve equitable health outcomes.
Another paper covers a process evaluation in Uganda that examines the integration of family planning, livelihood, and conservation programs. They found that combining sectoral efforts, rather than keeping them separate, enhanced program reach and community engagement, driven by trust-based relationships and local leadership. This integrative approach highlights how cross-sectoral alignment can improve service delivery and foster greater community involvement.
Finally, study of informal healthcare providers (IHPs) in the Indian Sundarbans maps the social networks of IHPs within rural health systems, demonstrating their strong ties with both community and government actors. The study advocates for leveraging these networks through intersectoral collaboration to strengthen universal health coverage in underserved areas. This perspective underscores the value of including informal providers within formal health systems to improve access and resilience.
The corresponding authors of these papers represent institutions in Argentina, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, and the United States. This global representation highlights the breadth of perspectives and expertise contributing to the advancement of Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR).
ARTICLES IN THE SUPPLEMENT
- Editorial: The puzzle of intersectoral collaboration and health. Revisiting implementation research
- Original manuscript: Climate and health: a path to strategic co-financing?
- Original manuscript: Collaborative dynamics and shared motivation: exploring tobacco control policy development in Zambia
- Original manuscript: Intersectoral collaboration and health system resilience during COVID-19: learnings from Ahmedabad, India
- Original manuscript: Strengthening policy engagement when scaling up interventions targeting non-communicable diseases: insights from a qualitative study across 20 countries
- Original manuscript: The pathway to health in all policies through intersectoral collaboration on the health workforce: a scoping review
- Original manuscript: Thinking politically about intersectoral action: Ideas, Interests and Institutions shaping political dimensions of governing during COVID-19
- Original manuscript: A process evaluation of a family planning, livelihoods and conservation project in Rukiga, Western Uganda
- Original manuscript: Leveraging the social networks of informal healthcare providers for universal health coverage: insights from the Indian Sundarbans
Note: The views expressed in the Special Supplement do not necessarily reflect the views of the IDRC.
ACCESS THE SUPPLEMENT HERE.
LISTEN TO THE PODCAST HERE.
