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Amar
Jesani, a leading expert on Ethics, Rights and Health Systems visited the Institute for a week from 7-12 September,
2009.
The WHO - Alliance for Health Policy & Systems Research (AHPSR) , has taken up a project on Landscaping and Learning from Experience of Health Policy Analysis Institutes. The objective of this study is to understand, what characteristics of health policy analysis institutes (HPAIs) in low and middle income countries (LMICs) are important for their sustainability and effectiveness in providing policy analysis and advice?
The importance of strong health policies and systems to the achievement of global health goals has recently been widely recognized. In recent months there has been a concerted effort to address health system challenges, with multiple global initiatives being launched. However investments under these various initiatives may be jeopardized if there is not strong in-country capacity to direct spending, and monitor and evaluate the effects of investments. In this study a working definition structured around the functions, organization and clients of a HPAI is proposed. The study will focus in particular on three themes in the literature namely the appropriate degree of autonomy for such an institute, how best to ensure sustainability and approaches for capacity development. The study seeks (a) To map existing national (and regional) HPAIs, and current and previous initiatives to support the development of such institutes; and (b) To derive lessons, relevant to differing contexts, about appropriate organizational models and institutional strategies that contribute to the sustainability and effectiveness of HPAIs. A three phased study is being undertaken comprised of (i) development of a database of HPAIs (ii) literature review regarding HPAIs and think tanks in LMICs and (iii) in-depth case studies of eight HPAIs or think tanks that conduct health policy work. The study is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.
The
WHO-AHPSR has selected the Institute of Health Systems for an in-depth Case Study, in view of its history, strong governance structures and its concern with policy-relevance. Dr. Amar Jesani of Mumbai, has been commissioned by the WHO-AHPSR for this case study.
Dr. Amar Jesani interacted with the Director, Faculty and Staff of the IHS, and reviewed the Institute's publications,
Audited Accounts, Director's reports and various other documents. Dr. Jesani interviewed selected members of the Institute's Board and the Executive council. In addition he met senior government officials, health policy stake holders, and the Institute's clients to understand the characteristics of the IHS and its potential.
The Landscaping and Learning from Experience of Health Policy Analysis Institutes (HPAIs) project is coordinated by Sara Bennett, Advisor, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. She can be reached at:
saracbennett@gmail.com
Dr. Amar Jesani is Medical Graduate (1978), Medical College, M. S. University, Baroda, Gujarat, India. He began his career in 1979 in the research secretariat of ICMR/ICSSR joint committee that drafted "Health for all: An alternative Strategy", at the Foundation for Research in Community Health (FRCH, Mumbai) where he thereafter continued to work for 15 years. He is a managing trustee of the Anusandhan Trust, Mumbai and has held Chief Executive positions in some of its institutions such as the Centre for Studies in Ethics and Rights (CSER), and the Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT). In November 2005 he coordinated the 1st National Bioethics Conference of the Indian Journal of Medical Ethics in Mumbai, in collaboration with 20 institutions from different parts of the country and was attended by over 350 persons. He is one of the national faculty of the ICMR for its NIH supported research bioethics training programme and a visiting faculty at the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies
(Trivandrum).
Dr. Amar Jesani can be reached at:
Centre for Studies in Ethics and Rights, 4th Floor, Candelar, 26 St. John Baptist Road, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050, India. Tel: (91)(22) 2640 6703.
Email:amar.jesani@gmail.com
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