Observatory Model

The Platform joins the cohort of regional health systems Observatories including the European Observatory and the Asia-Pacific Observatory (APO), which has shared lessons learned and approaches to inform the development of AHOP. This evolving global model creates opportunities to compare and contrast health systems characteristics between countries and regions worldwide. The Observatory model was identified through an extensive scoping study, the results of which are publicly available.

The Observatory approach supports and promotes evidence-informed policy-making through: the comprehensive and rigorous analysis of health systems; the production of timely and reliable evidence in response to real policy needs; and the communication of evidence in ways that are useful to, and usable by, policy-makers. These include:

• Health System Profiles – detailed reviews of a country’s health system, reform and policy initiatives, referred to as the “HiT” series (Health Systems in Transition) in the European and Asia Pacific contexts and as Country Health Systems & Services Profiles (CHSSP) in the African context.
• Policy briefs – Short, tailored evidence reviews that address health policy-makers’ questions, with an emphasis on clarity, accessibility and matching evidence to policy needs.
• Comparative and thematic studies – Longer reports providing in-depth analysis of a specific health system function or issue based on secondary research.
• Policy dialogues – A particular brand of bringing evidence to policy: highly focused, targeting senior policy-makers and advisers, and marshalling support for key decision points. Policy dialogues serve as a mechanism for drawing in expertise and policy-makers to foster mutual learning.

The Platform’s activities therefore serve to enhance both supply and demand of health systems evidence, with the ultimate aim of strengthening health systems and PHC implementation in the region.