Research and Analysis

While there is considerable interest in putting greater focus on the strengthening of health systems, particularly in Africa, there is a clear lack of accurate information, especially on the role of the private sector in health care.

Accurate and standardized information is needed to inform and influence policy improvements. The IFC-World Bank Health in Africa (HiA) Initiative will help provide this information. A cornerstone of the initiative is to conduct research and analysis on the health sector in Africa and to disseminate this to leaders and policy makers so that it can inform policy decision making on how to strengthen health systems.

The dissemination vehicles include a Flagship Report, country assessments, and thematic studies.

The HiA team has worked with partners to develop policy indicators to measure the health care policy environment, and has begun the data collection effort in pilot countries.

In December 2010, the team will publish their findings in a Flagship Report, which uses evidence-based data and qualitative analysis to test the hypothesis that policy reforms may be needed to:

• Unlock the potential of the private health sector,
• Increase the effectiveness in the way the private health sector operates, and
• Better integrate the private sector in the national health systems.

As part of the Flagship Report, a team is currently collecting data across the Africa region to assess the policy environment within which the private health sector operates in each country. One-page descriptions of this effort are available in English and French.