People's Health and Economics Research Forum
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Health research for what?
Invitation to a WHO hosted e-forum:
People's Health and Economics Research Forum, PHERFORUM
mailto:PHER-FORUM@club-internet.fr
If your organisation is interested in participating in the dis-
cussion, or want to become a founding member, then upon your re-
ply we can send you an invitation and access to the:
Civil Society Organizations' Research in Economics and Health -
Why What and How?
World Health Organisation hosted e-forum for the next month, it
starts this Monday Oct 26.
Health and economics research for what?
* Research is imperative for policy, planning and programme for-
mulation in the area of health.
* It can be a strong tool for advocacy and for monitoring the
achievements and health goals that the various stakeholders in-
cluding the national governments set for themselves.
Why CSOs can engage in research?
* CSOs can conduct both fundamental and operational health re-
search of good quality.
* Many CSOs have the advantage of being field-based and there-
fore are in position to better identify problems, issues and ar-
eas for research through community participation.
* Inherent improvement in health services and facilities through
research conducted by CSOs is also a tool of social audit.
* At the same time, the methodology of research should be credi-
ble, valid and sound.
Financing of Research
* Health research in many developing countries is often donor
driven.
* National governments could increase their financial and re-
source investment into research in the health sector and encour-
age partnerships with CSOs.
Recommendations
* To be effective, the CSOs should form a forum at the interna-
tional level - The International CSO Forum for Research on Eco-
nomics and Health.
* The forum can address the proprietary issues more effectively
- much more than what individual CSO can do.
* The membership of the forum should be open so that Unions or
Church groups, or other grass-root or mass organizations can
participate.
Functions of the forum
* Set research agenda internationally taking into account the
capabilities of all the member NGOs.
* Help towards building capacities to undertake research of the
member partners.
* Assist in the identification and inclusion of smaller CSOs
into its purview of its support
* Can help in mobilizing resources.
* Can convert research findings and data collected by its member
organizations/ individuals into recommendations to be used to
influence policy and programs of its respective governments
* Can also help allocate available national funds more ration-
ally and avoid redundancy.
* Collaborate between CSOs to mount research project
* Share results and experiences
* Assist remote areas CSOs with little access to international
media
* Pool Human Resources and Capacities
* Protect CSOs against donor driven agenda
* Foster knowledge transfer
* Provide grass root feedback and comments on international re-
search
* Both fundamental and operational research would be conducted
on any field touching on Heath, or economic systems and policies
as affects health.
Operation of the forum
* The International CSO Forum for Research on Economics and
Health would operate from a platform with central website to in-
sure free access to research.
Ms Garance Upham, President, Mouvement Pour la Santé des Peu-
ples-Genève International Project elaborated with the author by
representatives of Civil Society Organizations from 14 South
East Asian and West Caribbean countries, Colombo, Sri Lanka,
April 2004.
The WHO hosted e-forum will take place between Oct 26th - Nov
27th. The ideas exchanged between CSOs during that month may
lead to the creation of a permanent forum with a database to
find partners, access research conducted by other CSOs and more
broadly, to maintain the information-flow.
To allow us to create such a database, please answer the ques-
tions below and mailto:PHER-forum@club-internet.fr
If you are currently conducting, or have conducted, research:
1. What areas have you conducted research in?
2. Do you have experience doing research with institutions, gov-
ernments or UN agencies, on the issues of health, macroeconomic
policy effects on health, and health effects on economic per-
formance?
3. Would you be interested in linking up with NGOs that don't
have that experience?
If you are *not* currently conducting research:
4. Would you like to conduct your own research?
5. What are your capacities (manpower, what population area do
you cover with your project(s), what would you need to link up
with NGOs who do their own research)?
Could you take a few minutes to describe who you are.
Are you a:
PINGO (Public Interest NGO)
People Living with HIV/AIDS Organisation
People Living with Disability Organisation
BINGO (Business Interest NGO)
Trade Union
FBO (Faith Based Organisation)
Youth Organisation
Name of the organisation: