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Table 1 Key publications and events advocating for Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR)

From: The evolution of the field of Health Policy and Systems Research and outstanding challenges

Date

Publication or Event

Significance

1996

Ad Hoc Committee report ā€œHealth Policy and Systems Development: An agenda for Researchā€ [2]

First attempt to identify global research priorities for the health policy and systems field; contributed to the establishment of the Alliance for HPSR

1997

Lejondal Meeting in Stockholm and accompanying reports and proposals [28]

This international consultative meeting at Lejondal with senior scientists, policy-makers and representatives of various agencies with a stake in HPSR led the way for an ā€œInterim Boardā€ for the Alliance for HPSR

2000

World Health Report: ā€œHealth Systems: Improving performanceā€ [15]

One of the early reports to present a clear conceptual framework for health systems, and the somewhat controversial ranking of country health systems both piqued policy-maker interest and offered a set of consistent metrics for health systems

2003ā€“04

Task Force for Health Systems Research [29]

Identified health systems research priorities to help achieve the Millenium Development Goals. Report was published in the Lancet

2004

Tanzania Essential Health Intervention Project (TEHIP) launch of final report ā€œFixing Health Systemsā€ [30]

Said to have triggered interest in health system investments at senior levels of the Gates Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Trust

2004

Ministerial Summit on health research, Mexico City, MexicoĀ [16]

Statement from the Summit called for greater investment in health systems research, but also for greater attention to the evidence-to-policy gap

2004

European Commission report on 20Ā years of health systems research funding [31]

Called for greater investment in HPSR, as well greater attention to capacity development for low- and middle-income partners, and getting research into policy and practice

2006

Lancet and Mexican Ministry of Health meeting on health system reform

Showcased national level efforts to drive policy change through HPSR

2008

Ministerial Meeting on Health Research, Bamako, MaliĀ [17]

Follow-on from the Mexico Summit, continued to drive focus on health systems research and evidence-to-policy work, as well as assessing progress against Summit commitments

2008

High-level consultation and task force on ā€œScaling Up Research and Learning for Health Systemsā€ [32]

Issued four main recommendations: (1) mobilise a high profile agenda of research and learning on health systems; (2) engage policy-makers in shaping the agenda and encourage research use; (3) strengthen country capacity for HPSR; and (4) increase financing for HPSR

2010

First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Montreux, Switzerland

First international conference focused on HPSR

2012

WHO Strategy on Research for HealthĀ [27]

Initiated in 2007 and developed through a consultative process, this WHO strategy document prioritised research that met health needs, and underscored investments in capacity development and knowledge translation

2012

Changing Mindsets: WHO Strategy on Health Policy and Systems Research [33]

First WHO strategy focused on HPSR

2012

Second Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Beijing, China

Establishment of the society, Health Systems Global

2013

Research for Universal Health Coverage: World Health Report 2013 [34]

Articulates the importance of HPSR to advance progress in universal health coverage and calls for greater investment in low- and middle-income countries in HPSR

2014

Third Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Cape Town, South Africa

Ā 

2014

Statement on Advancing Implementation Research and Delivery Science [18]

Joint statement issued by the Alliance for HPSR, USAID, WHO and the World Bank underlining the importance of implementation research

2016

Fourth Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, Vancouver, Canada

Ā