Walaiporn Patcharanarumol

Influencing policy change: the experience of health think tanks in low- and middle-income countries

In recent years there has been a growth in the number of independent health policy analysis institutes in low- and middle-income countries which has occurred in response to the limitation of government analytical capacity and pressures associated with democratization. This study aimed to: (i) investigate the contribution made by health policy analysis institutes in low- and middle-income countries to health policy agenda setting, formulation, implementation and monitoring and evaluation; and (ii) assess which factors, including organizational form and structure, support the role of health policy analysis institutes in low- and middle-income countries in terms of positively contributing to health policy. Six case studies of health policy analysis institutes in Bangladesh, Ghana, India, South Africa, Uganda and Vietnam were conducted including two NGOs, two university and two government-owned policy analysis institutes. Case studies drew on document review, analysis of financial information, semi-structured interviews with staff and other stakeholders, and iterative feedback of draft findings. Some of the institutes had made major contributions to policy development in their respective countries. All of the institutes were actively engaged in providing policy advice and most undertook policy-relevant research. Relatively few were engaged in conducting policy dialogues, or systematic reviews, or commissioning research. Much of the work undertaken by institutes was driven by requests from government or donors, and the primary outputs for most institutes were research reports, frequently combined with verbal briefings. Several factors were critical in supporting effective policy engagement. These included a supportive policy environment, some degree of independence in governance and financing, and strong links to policy makers that facilitate trust and influence. While the formal relationship of the institute to government was not found to be critical, units within government faced considerable difficulties.

Innovative Financing for Health Promotion: A Global Review and Thailand Case Study

In the light of increased burden from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) worldwide, the availability of guidelines on effective and cost-effective prevention and control interventions for NCD, and the political commitment to address NCD epidemics, there is a need for mobilizing adequate funding for health promotion which addresses primary and secondary prevention of these NCD. n nThis article reviews the progress in financing health care in general and health promotion in particular and provides a global review of innovative financing for health promotion in selected countries having such a specific dedicated tax and/or innovative governance mechanisms to manage health promotion expenditure. The article also draws on lessons from an in-depth case study of Thai Health Promotion Foundation which contributes to sustainable financing in supporting multisectoral and multidisciplinary actions on health promotion. n nAssessment of financing health care indicates that countries in Africa and Southeast Asia Regions, facing fiscal constraints and lack of political will to spend on health of their people, spent merely US

Thailand Health Financing Review 2010

109 and US

Universal Health Coverage for Inclusive and Sustainable Development : Country Summary Report for Thailand

71 per capita, respectively, in 2013. This level is well below the indicative benchmark of US

การประเมินการถ่ายโอนหน่วยบริการปฐมภูมิไปยังองค์กรปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่น: สังเคราะห์บทเรียนจากพื้นที่ 51 แห่งและทางเลือกในเชิงนโยบาย

86 (in 2012 term) to achieve health of the population. n nOnly one-third of total 194 WHO Member States countries produce complete data on health promotion expenditure. In 2012, the current financing level of health promotion was low, the global average of 3.9% of Total Health Expenditure or at US

ความแตกต่างของการใช้พลังงานจากกิจกรรมทางกายระหว่างคนเมือง/คนชนบทในประเทศไทย: ข้อมูลจากการสำรวจอนามัยและสวัสดิการ พ.ศ. 2558

61 per capita spending on health promotion in 2012. There is no increasing trend in health promotion expenditure between 1995 and 2012. In 2012, expenditure on health promotion was merely US

ความแตกต่างของพฤติกรรมการบริโภคอาหารของประชากรไทย: ลักษณะประชากร เศรษฐกิจและสังคม และสถานะสุขภาพส่งผลอย่างไร

10.3 and US

คนไทยใช้พลังงานในกิจกรรมทางกายและพฤติกรรมเนือยนิ่งเท่าไร: ข้อมูลจากการสำรวจอนามัยและสวัสดิการ พ.ศ. 2558

7.2 per capita in Africa and Southeast Asia Region. This level cannot make significant contribution to health promotion in the context of increased diseases burden from NCD. n nInnovative funding sources from dedicated tax such as from products, which are harmful to health, such as tobacco, alcohol, energy-dense processed foods, or earmarks from other sources such as insurance fund, though provide additional new resources for health promotion, require effective governance mechanisms for resource allocation with participation by other non-health sector and civil society organizations. n nEven there is limited political will to support innovative financing health promotion from dedicated tax such as sin tax, countries may apply innovate governance mechanisms to manage effectively the annual budget allocation to health promotion often by the Ministries of Health. n nLessons can be drawn from several countries introducing innovative financing for health promotion and innovative governance mechanisms in maximizing health gains from limited resources.