strategic plans. Australia will also encourage alignment of their support for national efforts to strengthen health information systems, disease surveillance and response systems. Potential partners WHO SPC Pacific and International academia Research and analysis Objective To support quality research and analysis that underpins evidence-based decision-making regionally and nationally. Rationale for inclusion Quality knowledge production is critical to effective health policy and service delivery, however the required critical mass for research capacity is beyond the ability of many Pacific Island countries to maintain. To date, there has been limited evidence of countries identifying and driving a regional health research agenda that responds to their knowledge gaps. Rather, research is often by academics. ‘supply-led’ Nature of future support Australia’s regional health program will provide financial and technical support to build the capacity of research institutions to plan, implement and disseminate quality applied health policy and delivery research that meets Pacific Island countries’ knowledge needs. In line with key Pacific heath issues, priority research foci may include health systems (in particular health financing); NCD prevention and control; sexual and reproductive health, and communicable diseases in areas where there is an unfinished agenda. Changes required to Australia’s regional health program Australia will continue to support research conducted by the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University (research is currently supported through funding for the College’s strategic plan) with a strengthened focus on maximising links to Pacific research priorities and other institutions. Australia may also support research conducted by SPC, as prioritised in its (in development). It is anticipated Public Health Division Strategy 2013-2022 that health analysis will continue to be a priority under future iterations of Australia’s Pacific Facility agreement with the World Bank which may include regional analytic work. Australia may consider supporting other research institutions in Pacific countries and internationally through the regional program. Any such support would need to align to the Australia’s broader aid research agenda.
strategic plans. Australia will also encourage alignment of their support for national efforts to strengthen health information systems, disease surveillance and response systems. Potential partners WHO SPC Pacific and International academia Research and analysis Objective To support quality research and analysis that underpins evidence-based decision-making regionally and nationally. Rationale for inclusion Quality knowledge production is critical to effective health policy and service delivery, however the required critical mass for research capacity is beyond the ability of many Pacific Island countries to maintain. To date, there has been limited evidence of countries identifying and driving a regional health research agenda that responds to their knowledge gaps. Rather, research is often ‘supply-led’ by academics. Nature of future support Australia’s regional health program will provide financial and technical support to build the capacity of research institutions to plan, implement and disseminate quality applied health policy and delivery research that meets Pacific Island countries’ knowledge needs. In line with key Pacific heath issues, priority research foci may include health systems (in particular health financing); NCD prevention and control; sexual and reproductive health, and communicable diseases in areas where there is an unfinished agenda. Changes required to Australia’s regional health program Australia will continue to support research conducted by the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University (research is currently supported through funding for the College’s strategic plan) with a strengthened focus on maximising links to Pacific research priorities and other institutions. Australia may also support research conducted by SPC, as prioritised in its Public Health Division Strategy 2013-2022 (in development). It is anticipated that health analysis will continue to be a priority under future iterations of Australia’s Pacific Facility agreement with the World Bank which may include regional analytic work. Australia may consider supporting other research institutions in Pacific countries and internationally through the regional program. Any such support would need to align to the Australia’s broader aid research agenda.
pacific-regional-health-program-delivery-strategy.docx