HSR Symposium

[FR]

The First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research, The Global Forum for Health Research and The Lancet, announced an essay competition on the theme,

Health systems research: towards universal health coverage

Call Description

The First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (organized by WHO and collaborating partners), The Global Forum for Health Research and The Lancet are pleased to announce an essay competition for young researchers. The theme of this year’s competition is Health Systems Research: towards universal health coverage.

Health Systems Research (HSR) – the purposeful generation of knowledge that enables societies to organize themselves to improve health outcomes and health services – is rapidly emerging as one of the most dynamic and complex areas of research for health. The Symposium is dedicated to improving the scientific evidence needed by health policy-makers and health professionals to inform their decisions related to accelerating universal health coverage.

Young professionals working in or interested in the wide spectrum of health systems research are invited to submit essays covering one or more of the following areas of inquiry:

Political economy of universal coverage: historic analysis; social, political and economic context; policies, processes and power relationships

Health system financing: different financing mechanisms and their implications for universal health coverage and health equity

Scale-up of health services: proven technical and managerial practices to scale up access to effective interventions and services at primary, secondary or tertiary levels

Knowledge translation: translating health systems research into policy and practice

Each submitted essay should reflect the young researcher’s unique perspective on a particular aspect(s) of health systems research. It should include structured arguments and critical analysis based on original quantitative and/or qualitative research, with the intent to demonstrate impact on health and health equity. The essay should be less technical and more provocative, idealistic and inspirational. It should demonstrate the “human face” of health systems research.

Aim of the Call

The aim of the call is to identify and encourage young researchers at the early stage of their career and inspire many to action through provocative, idealistic and passionate ideas.

Eligibility

• Authors must have been born on or after 1 January 1980.
• Authors must have at least one of the following:
(i) a master’s degree in health or a health-related field;
(ii) be enrolled in a doctoral-level programme in health or a health-related field;
(iii) at least two years’ work or research experience in public health or development.

Note: Staff members of the Global Forum and The Lancet as well as Symposium partners or their immediate families are ineligible to enter the competition.

Evaluation

Evaluation of the essays is currently being conducted by members of the Symposium Scientific Committee, Editors of The Lancet and the Global Forum Programme Committee. The essays will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
• Relevance to the theme of the competition.
• Originality and quality of the essay (clarity, coherence, style and organization).
• Demonstration of the impact of the research referred to in the essay on health
and health equity.

Prizes

• A selection of shortlisted essays will be published in an anthology as well as on the Global Forum and Lancet websites. The anthology will be launched on the occasion of the First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research.
• The shortlisted essays will also be available online prior to the Symposium
• Winners will be invited to take part (with all expenses paid) in the Symposium, which will take place in Montreux, Switzerland, from 16 to 19 November 2010.

Call Schedule

• The deadline for receipt of entries was 17 May 2010.
• A shortlist was announced at the end of June.
• The winners will be notified early September 2010.

Prizes

• A selection of shortlisted essays will be published in an anthology as well as on the Global Forum and Lancet websites. The anthology will be launched on the occasion of the First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research.
• The shortlisted essays will also be available online prior to the Symposium
• Winners will be invited to take part (with all expenses paid) in the Symposium, which will take place in Montreux, Switzerland, from 16 to 19 November 2010.

Call Schedule

• The deadline for receipt of entries was 17 May 2010.
• A shortlist was announced at the end of June.
• The winners will be notified early September 2010.