Global Health Otherwise shared a post on LinkedIn:
“What is health policy and systems research, and why does it matter now more than ever?
Health systems do not run on medicine alone. The policies that guide them, the structures that sustain them, and the research that improves them are equally vital. Yet this research field has long been underfunded and underappreciated, even as the world grows more complex.
Mirzoev and colleagues (2026) offer a timely stock-take of health policy and systems research (HPSR), arguing that the field must now contend with climate change, geopolitical upheaval, the retreat of major donors, and a rising distrust of science itself.
The authors report that HPSR has evolved considerably over recent decades, shifting from a narrow focus on health services toward a broader understanding of the social, political, and commercial forces that shape population health.
They report that methodological approaches have grown more participatory and interdisciplinary, and that calls to decolonize global health have pushed the field toward more equitable research partnerships.
The authors report that sustained, diversified funding and stronger local research capacity remain the most urgent priorities for the field’s survival.
Mirzoev and colleagues argue that HPSR is indispensable to building resilient health systems, but warn that underfunding and geopolitical disruption now threaten its future.”
Title: Health Policy and Systems Research: Where Are We and What Does the Future Hold?
Authors: Tolib Mirzoev, Ana Amaya, David Daniels, Rumana Huque, Aku Kwamie, Robert Marten, Zubin Shroff, Goran Zangana, Kumanan Rasanathan
Read the Full Article on Health Systems & Reform
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