Health

­This collection of documents on health policy has been developed to support the work of researchers, policymakers, community members, and stakeholders who wish to contribute to greater access to quality healthcare through research and evidence-based policy development.

In South Africa healthcare funding mechanisms­, particularly national health insurance, are being researched and debated widely and this is reflected in the materials included in this section.

Policy briefs

  • Decisive action to achieve the Millennium Development Goals 
    An HSRC policy brief on Millennium Development Goals relating to water, sanitation, education and health challenges facing the Southern African Development Community.
    Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), January 2011
  • Econex health reform notes 
    To date Econex has produced 13 health reform notes relating to the introduction of a national health insurance (NHI) system in South Africa.
    Econex, April 2011
  • Econex National Health Insurance notes 
    To date Econex has released 13 policy notes on goverment's proposed National Health Insurance plan.
    Econex, October 2009
  • Evaluating deliberative processes 
    Fact sheet which aims to introduce public health practitioners to the evaluation of deliberative processes.­
    National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy, September 2010
  • From Evidence to Action: a newsletter of the Policy > Action Network 
    Issue 4 of the newsletter focuses on the issue of violent crime in South Africa. The newsletter aims to stimulate debate around evidence-based policy-making. To contribute to future editions plesae send your submissions to pan@hsrc.ac.za­.
    Policy > Action Network, August 2011
  • From Evidence to Action: Issue three: Child-centred policy 
    Issue Three of the PAN newsletter focuses on the interface between child-centred evidence and related policy. It features a range of resources that illustrate how child-focused data and research evidence can contribute to and inform better outcomes for children when formulating social policy.
    Human Sciences Research Council and the Programme to Support Pro-Poor Policy Development, June 2011
  • Funding the NHI: Earmarked tax 
    Reseach note which investigates the ANC proposal of funding the additional expenditure required for a national health insurance (NHI) system with an with an earmarked tax rather than using general taxation. Also discusses implications of the increase in personal tax.
    Econex, August 2011
  • Improving equitable domestic public financing to reach universal coverage in East and Southern Africa 
    This policy brief draws policy makers’ attention to the demands and challenges in health financing for universal coverage, suggesting options.
    Regional Network for Equity in Health in East and Southern Africa (EQUINET), July 2010
  • Influencing health systems policy and practice 
    Relays some experiences from the Consortium for Research on Equitable Health Systems (CREHS) of getting research into policy and practice.
    Consortium for Research on Equitable Health Systems, March 2010
  • Innovations in insuring the poor: Innovations in health insurance: Community-based models 
    Reviews policy challenges around scaling up community-based health insurance schemes.
    International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) , December 2009
  • Innovative Medicines South Africa NHI policy briefs 
    ­To date Innovative Medicines South Africa has released 19 policy briefs on government's proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) plan. ­
    Innovative Medicines South Africa, February 2011
  • Kesho Bora Study: Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV during breastfeeding 
    Policy brief on new evidence published in Lancet Infectious Diseases which shows safety and ­efficacy of combination antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding and supports the 2010 revised WHO guidelines.
    World Health Organisation (WHO), January 2011
  • LIMS reforms and equitable subsidies 
    The 17th policy brief in a series which revisits ­the low income medical scheme (LIMS) recommendations that were made in 2006.
    Innovative Medicines South Africa, February 2011
  • Mental Health and Poverty Project policy briefs 
    A series of nine policy briefs on policy development and analysis aimed at breaking the cycle of mental ill­-health and poverty.
    Mental Health and Poverty Project, University of Cape Town, 2010
  • National health insurance: Can we afford it or can we afford not to have it? 
    This briefing unpacks some details of the proposed national health insurance (NHI) scheme and provides an overview of some of the more pressing questions about it.­
    Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference, September 2011
  • NHI in South Africa in 2010: Background brief 
    Innovative Medicines has produced 14 policy briefs on National Health Insurance to date­, with this background brief providing an overview of developments during 2010.
    Innovative Medicines South Africa, November 2010
  • Nursing in a new era: policy brief 1 
    Examines the shifts in training and employment patterns between 1997 and 2007.
    Education, Science and Skills Development Programme, Human Sciences Research Council, November 2009
  • Projected non-communicable diseases update 
    ­This policy brief uses the revised population and new information to update several policy briefs that projected future chronic disease and cancer in South Africa.­­
    Innovative Medicines South Africa, June 2011
  • SHIELD information sheets 
    Series of information sheets on healthcare funding and benefits in South Africa, Ghana, and Tanzania.
    Strategies for Health Insurance for Equity in Less Developed Countries (SHIELD), August 2010
  • Tackling implementation gaps through health policy analysis 
    Guidelines for predicting political and institutional barriers to strengthening equitable health systems.
    Centre for Health Policy, September 2008
  • The need for the active and strategic management of local-level policy implementation  
    Reviews research seeking to document key influences over policy implementation - exercise of power by managers and frontline implementers and factors such as managerial trust and organisational culture.
    Centre for Health Policy, October 2009
  • The tax base in South Africa 
    Policy brief dealing with the tax base in South Africa, based on annual tax statistics, which­ provide authoritative information on the taxes collected and the patterns by income level which can help with understanding how social security contributions for national health insurance (NHI) may­ be structured.
    Innovative Medicines South Africa (IMSA), August 2011
  • Universal coverage and equitable financing 
    The 16th policy brief in a series which reviews universal coverage and issues related to having a national ­health service (NHS) alongside a mandatory health insurance system.
    Innovative Medicines South Africa, February 2011
  • Vacancy: Head: Research Use and Impact Assessment (RIA) (Deputy Executive Director) 
    The Research Use and Impact (RIA) programme at the HSRC wishes to appoint a suitable candidate to lead the programme. The successful candidate will be based in Pretoria on a 5 year contract. The closing date for applications is 18 November 2011.­­
    Human Sciences Research Council, November 2011

Research reports & papers

Case studies

Country studies

Toolkits & guidelines

Conference & seminar papers

Reading lists

Advocacy initiatives

  • SECTION27 submission on National Health Insurance (NHI) 
    ­Submission to National Treasury on its proposal for the first phase of the conversion of medical deductions to medical tax credits, callng for an extension of the subsidisation of medical scheme contributions beyond personal income tax payers.
    Section27 incorporating the AIDS Law Project, July 2011
  • Advocacy toolkit for health 
    Describes advocacy techniques and activities for the health professionals and students. Includes aids such as templates, phone scripts, sample letters and other downloadable tools.
    Physicians for Human Rights, 2007
  • African Community of Practice on Managing for Development Results 
    A community of over 1,000 practitioners managing for development results (MfDR) from 37 different African countries and regions across the world.
    March 2011
  • From Evidence to Action: the Policy > Action Network newsletter 
    Download the second issue of the Policy > Action Network newsletter and email pan@hsrc.ac.za if you would like to make comments or submissions for the next issue.
    Human Sciences Research Council, February 2011
  • HIV/AIDS and human rights in Southern Africa: an advocacy resource manual  
    Gives practical information on how law and policy can protect and promote human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, and how Southern African Development Community countries have et this challenge.
    AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa, 2006
  • IPC-IG Internship Programme  
    This internship offers outstanding graduate-level students the opportunity to acquire direct exposure to IPC-IG’s work as a global forum for policy dialogue and South-South learning on development innovations.
    International Poverty Centre, January 2011
  • National Planning Commission (NPC) Jam 
    If you have some ideas on building a better South Africa, please register for and participate in the National Planning Commission (NPC)­ Jam (an online brainstorming event from noon on 28 September until noon on 1 October). Additional information can also be found here. ­
    National Planning Commission (NPC) , September 2011
  • Online training: How to build a policy influence plan 
    CIPPEC, a leading think tank in Argentina will award 12 scholarships to participate in the third edition of this online training programme developed jointly with Global Development Network (GDN)­ which will start by the end of August 2011.­
    CIPPEC, August 2011
  • Rural Health Advocacy Project 
    Aims to work towards ­the progressive realization of the constitutional right of health for all, including the rural poor.
    September 2009
  • September National Imbizo 
    A new Facebook forum for a national citizens' dialogue, currently working against xenophobia and planning for ­a National Indaba in September 2010.
    July 2010
  • The People's Health Movement 
    Grassroots movement with representation in many countries including South Africa.
    January 2009