SUPPORT-SYSTEMS (11) Q1 What does civil society participation in health policy mean? Why is it important? (4)

10 May, 2022

Hello All,

Within the lens of Equity, there may be a critical question embedded in our first question: Which "Civil society" are we considering in our discussion?

The list provided to define the term helps as a good start but only in a general sense as it is not clear to identify the crucial elements of "vulnerabilities" that Dr Tedros talks about.

I hope and believe that going forward we would certainly have more specific ideas on this complexity of the question itself. Indeed the very focus on "evidence based policy making" as a support to make health policy more inclusive essentially depends on our understanding of the strength of diverse communities and their "meaningful" engagement !

Tarry Asoka has already offered a truly substantive introduction to our journey particularly focused on the LMIC experience, as he describes it.

https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/support-systems-10-q1-what-does-civil-s...

Yet it is important to note that within the emerging realities of our fast changing and seemingly confusing times which often blurs the divides between the global and the local contexts of development or disparities, it is time to consider also the critical intersections - of LMI pockets in HICs and systemic similarities elsewhere between these conventional country domains.

Looking forward to an exciting conversation

Esha Ray Chaudhuri

Canada

HIFA profile: Esha Ray Chaudhuri is an Equity Analyst, in Canada. Professional interests: Equity Issues in Health and Health Care with particular focus on interface of Local and Global contexts. She is a member of two HIFA working groups: HIFA SUPPORT-SYSTEMS - How can decision-making processes for health systems strengthening and universal health coverage be made more inclusive, responsive and accountable? and the WHO-HIFA Catalyst Group on Learning for quality health services.

https://www.hifa.org/support/members/esha-ray

https://www.hifa.org/projects/new-support-systems-how-can-decision-makin...

https://www.hifa.org/projects/learning-quality-health-services

Email address: ed.consult3 AT gmail.com