Journal
HEALTH POLICY
Volume 100, Issue 2-3, Pages 167-173Publisher
ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.11.016
Keywords
Health policy processes; Maternal health; Actors; Evidence; Context; Vietnam; India; China
Funding
- European Community [NCO-CT-2005-517746]
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This article reports on a comparative analysis to assess and explain the strengths and weaknesses of policy processes based on 9 case-studies of maternal health in Vietnam, India and China. Policy processes are often slow, inadequately coordinated and opaque to outsiders. Use of evidence is variable and, in particular, could be more actively used to assess different policy options. Whilst an increasing range of actors are involved, there is scope for further opening up of the policy processes. This is likely, if appropriately managed with due regard to issues such as accountability of advocacy organisations, to lead to stronger policy development and greater subsequent ownership; it may however be a more messy process to co-ordinate. Coordination is critical where policy issues span conventional sectoral boundaries, but is also essential to ensure development of policy considers critical health system and resource issues. This, and other features related to the nature of a specific policy issue, suggests the need both to adapt processes for each particular policy issue and to monitor the progress of the policy processes themselves. The article concludes with specific questions to be considered by actors keen to enhance policy processes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
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