Seminar Looks at How to Move Forward Health Policy and Systems Research

On May 17, 2024, the JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development (JICA Ogata Research Institute) hosted a special seminar, Frontiers of Health Policy and Systems Research. This was part of a series of events leading up to the 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR2024) to be held in Nagasaki, Japan, Nov. 18–22, 2024. The seminar provided a forum to consider the role of health policy and systems research (HPSR) in addressing global health challenges, with particular emphasis on the health challenges of low- and middle-income countries. The keynote speakers were Kumanan Rasanathan, executive director of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research at the World Health Organization, and Sakamoto Haruka, visiting fellow at the JICA Ogata Research Institute and visiting associate professor, Graduate School of Public Health, St. Luke’s International University.

The seminar began with opening remarks from Takizawa Ikuo, principal research fellow (Global Health) at the JICA Ogata Research Institute. Takizawa highlighted Japan’s leadership in shaping the global health agenda through various diplomatic channels, such as the G7 and G20 summits, the UN General Assembly and its High Level Meetings, and the World Health Assembly. Japan’s role is articulated in the Global Health Strategy of Japan, launched in 2022, embracing areas such as the achievement of universal health coverage (UHC), strengthening of pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPR), and promotion of relevant innovations. Takizawa also discussed the importance of improving Japan’s contributions to HPSR, particularly in generating evidence and policy recommendations for global health challenges.

In his presentation, Kumanan Rasanathan reflected on the past 30 years of health policy and systems research (HPSR), discussing its development, methodologies, and impact. Using examples from his experiences in a number of countries, Rasanathan argued that just as we talk about people-centered health systems, we should consider people-centered health research. He noted the multidisciplinary nature of HPSR, which incorporates epidemiology, economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, law, and psychology to improve health policies and interventions, saying it’s important to consider action beyond the health sector. He stressed the need for greater investment, visibility, and quantitative approaches to complement qualitative research, ensuring that HPSR can have a more significant real-world impact. He encouraged Japan to share its experiences and lessons learned globally and emphasized the importance of sustainable institutions and increased investment in HPSR.

Sakamoto introduced two examples of how Japan can contribute to health systems research. The first focused on national public health agencies, particularly Japan’s National Institute for Infectious Diseases, which will merge with the National Center for Global Health and Medicine to form the new Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS), commencing work in April next year. The creation of the JIHS involves legislative and procedural deliberations that could serve as case studies for other countries. The second example was a study conducted that analyzed Japan’s contribution to the global health agenda during the 2016 G7 Summit. The study examined how Japan successfully promoted UHC, attracting significant political interest. This approach can also be applied to domestic health issues to develop strategies for promoting specific health initiatives. She concluded by emphasizing the need for further research on how Japan’s experiences can be applied to other countries, including low- and middle-income countries.

The video recording is available by clicking the link below.