PHA-Exchange> People's Health and Economics Research Forum

[Claudio]

Health research for whatINVITATION TO A WHO HOSTED E-FORUM:
 
INVITATION : PEOPLE'S HEALTH AND ECONOMICS RESEARCH FORUM, PHERFORUM
PHER-FORUM at club-internet.fr
 
If your organisation is interested in participating in the discussion, or want to become a founding member, then upon your reply we can send you an invitation and access to the :
Civil Society Organizations' Research in Economics and Health. Why What and How?

World Health Organisation hosted eforum for the next month, it starts this Monday Oct 26.
 

Health and economics research for what?

§     Research is imperative for policy, planning and programme formulation in the area of  health. 

§     It can be a strong tool for advocacy and for monitoring the achievements and health goals that the various stakeholders including the national governments set for themselves. 

 

Why CSOs can engage in research? 

§     CSOs can conduct both fundamental and operational health research of good quality. 

§     Many CSOs have the advantage of being field-based and therefore are in position to better identify problems, issues and areas for research through community participation. 

§     Inherent improvement in health services and facilities through research conducted by CSOs is also a tool of social audit. 

§     At the same time, the methodology of research should be credible, valid and sound. 

 

Financing of Research

§     Health research in many developing countries is often donor driven. 

§     National governments could increase their financial and resource investment into research in the health sector and encourage partnerships with CSOs. 

Recommendations

§     To be effective, the CSOs should form a forum at the international level - The International CSO Forum for Research on Economics and Health. 

§     The forum can address the proprietary issues more effectively - much more than what individual CSO can do. 

§     The membership of the forum should be open so that Unions or Church groups, or other grass-root or mass organizations can participate.

Functions of the forum

§     Set research agenda internationally taking into account the capabilities of all the member NGOs. 

§     Help towards building capacities to undertake research of the member partners.

§     Assist in the identification and inclusion of smaller CSOs into its purview of its support 

§     Can help in mobilizing resources.

§     Can convert research findings and data collected by its member organizations/ individuals into recommendations to be used to influence policy and programs of its respective governments

§     Can also help allocate available national funds more rationally and avoid redundancy.

§     Collaborate between CSOs to mount research project

§     Share results and experiences

§     Assist remote areas CSOs with little access to international media

§     Pool Human Resources and Capacities

§     Protect CSOs against donor driven agenda

§     Foster knowledge transfer

§     Provide grass root feedback and comments on international research

§     Both fundamental and operational research would be conducted on any field touching on Heath, or economic systems and policies as affects health.

 

Operation of the forum

§    The International CSO Forum for Research on Economics and Health would operate from a platform with central website to insure free access to research. 

 

Ms Garance Upham, President, Mouvement Pour la Santé des Peuples-Genève International Project elaborated with the author by representatives of Civil Society Organizations from 14 South East Asian and West Caribbean countries, Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 2004.



The WHO hosted e-forum will take place between Oct 26th- Nov 27th. The ideas exchanged between CSOs during that month may lead to the creation of a permanent forum with a database to find partners, access research conducted by other CSOs and more broadly, to maintain the information-flow.

 

To allow us to create such a database, please answer the questions below and send them to PHER-forum at club-internet.fr 

 

If you are currently conducting, or have conducted, research:

 

  1.. What areas have you conducted research in?
  2.. Do you have experience doing research with institutions, governments or UN agencies, on the issues of health, macroeconomic policy effects on health, and health effects on economic performance?
  3.. Would you be interested in linking up with NGOs that don't have that experience?
 

If you are not currently conducting research:

 

  4.. Would you like to conduct your own research?
  5.. What are your capacities (manpower, what population area do you cover with your project(s), what would you need to link up with NGOs who do their own research)?
 

Could you take a few minutes to describe who you are:

Are you a.

PINGO (Public Interest NGO)

- People Living with HIV/AIDS Organisation

- People Living with Disability Organisation

BINGO (Business Interest NGO)

Trade Union 

FBO (Faith Based Organisation)

Youth Organisation

 


Name of the organisation:

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