Limitations of global governance for health: Motivating change

Recording of a talk by Professor Göran Tomson on the limitations of global governance for health, in the context of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Drawing upon case studies and The Lancet-University of Oslo Commission on GG4H, he addresses five global governance dysfunctions: inadequate policy space; institutional stickiness; democratic deficit; weak institutions and weak accountability.

Seeing the full picture

‘Seeing the full picture’ is a special podcast series about systems thinking for health systems strengthening from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research. It was developed with the George Institute for Global Health. This short trailer provides an overview of the series.

Alliance foundations in systems thinking: why then, what now?

This episode looks back to the publication of the 2009 Alliance Flagship report: Systems thinking for health systems strengthening to understand the motivations and needs for such a resource at that time. We speak to members  from the Alliance, then and now, about what’s happened since the report and consider what opportunities systems thinking has for strengthening health systems today. 

Guests:Don de Savigny, epidemiologist and health systems specialist, and co-editor of Systems thinking for health systems strengthening: a methodological handbookTaghreed Adam, Scientist in the Research for Health Department, World Health Organization, and co-editor of Systems thinking for health systems strengthening: a methodological handbookAku Kwamie, Technical Officer at the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization

Background to systems thinking

This episode considers how 'systems thinking' tools, methods and approaches have been used in different fields. We speak to two leaders in applying systems thinking to business and organizational issues. The discussion covers the background to systems thinking, overcoming challenges, importance of building a foundation for change, notions of linear evaluation, some real-world failures and successes, and how current events demonstrate the need for systems thinking on a global scale.  Guests:  David Peter Stroh, Founding Director of Applied Systems ThinkingMichael Goodman, Founding Director of Applied Systems Thinking

The science – and art – of systems thinking in health

This episode considers how 'systems thinking' tools, methods and approaches have been used in health policy and systems research, and how systems thinking is both 'art' and 'science'. We speak to two experts with experience applying systems thinking in a variety of health contexts and ask 'what represents 'scientific rigour' in health systems science?'.  Guests: Karl Blanchet, Director of the Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, University of Geneva, and co-editor of Systems thinking for health systems strengthening: a methodological handbookKara Durski, epidemiologist and systems thinker affiliated with the World Health Organization and the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota

LMIC experiences in systems thinking

This episode draws on the experiences of two practitioners using systems thinking in low and middle income country contexts. We speak to two medical doctors about their work in India and in Syria, get insight from real-world applications, discuss challenges related to resources, training, environment, power, short term vs long term considerations.  Guests:Abdulkarim Ekzayez, epidemiologist, and research associate at King's College London Prashanth N S, Lead of the Health Equity Cluster and DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance Fellow, Institute of Public Health, Bengaluru

Systems thinking: political and policy challenges

This episode looks at the implementation challenges of systems thinking, in particular the political economy of adopting a systems thinking approach to health sector reforms, agenda setting and policy implementation. We speak to two policy makers about their experience using systems thinking to develop collaborations and partnerships, and to achieve consensus.  Guests: Midori de Habich, former Minister of Health, PeruAndrew Leigh MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Treasury and Charities and Federal Member for Fenner in the Australian Capital Territory

Deep Dive: Sodium reduction in China

There’s a link between eating too much salt and high blood pressure, a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the world’s biggest killer. To mark World Heart Day on September 29th, we present a deep dive episode on one of the largest dietary interventions ever conducted, exploring effects of sodium reduction on heart health. In conversation with Professor Bruce Neal, Maoyi Tan and Zeng Ge reflect on their experiences working on the China Salt Substitute and Stroke Study (SSaSS) which showed significant benefit from using reduced-sodium salts to prevent adverse consequences of high blood pressure. They discuss the major challenges and opportunities to increasing the uptake and use of potassium-enriched salts in China, and its health benefits globally.

DEEP DIVE: To end the silent epidemic of drowning, whose voice matters?

To mark World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25th, we present a deep dive episode from The George Institute in which Dr Jagnoor Jagnoor discusses the table of influence in drowning prevention with global experts. Globally, an estimated 236,000 lives are lost to drowning every year - almost 650 every day, 26 every hour. Drowning is an issue that affects every nation of the world, and its scale and impact have been recognised at the global level with the adoption of a historic resolution to address it in 2021. In this conversation, our guests will draw on their experiences of drowning prevention in India, Africa and the UK to consider how best to strengthen regional actions such that it is inclusive, responsive to lived experience, and is context specific. We can all act together to end drowning.

Worlds Collide: Western world views shape medical education and global health research

About the series The Scan miniseries ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us! The final episode of this four-part series reflects on the way Western world views shape medical education and global health research as a result