Role of Ideas and Ideologies in Evidence-Based Health Policy

• Main Author: S Prinja (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2010-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2251-6085; 2251-6093
• Keywords: Health policy; Research; Evidence-based policy; Ideas; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Iranian Journal of Public Health, Vol 39, Iss 1 (2010)

Policy making in health is largely thought to be driven by three 'I's namely ideas, interests and institutions. Recent years have seen a shift in approach with increasing reliance being placed on role of evidence for policy making. The present arti­cle ascertains the role of ideas and ideologies in shaping evidence which is used to aid in policy decisions. The article dis­cusses different theories of research-policy interface and the relative freedom of research-based evidence from the influence of ideas. Examples from developed and developed countries are cited to illustrate the contentions made. The article high­lights the complexity of the process of evidence-based policy making, in a world driven by existing political, social and cul­tural ideologies. Consideration of this knowledge is paramount where more efforts are being made to bridge the gap be­tween the 'two worlds' of researchers and policy makers to make evidence-based policy as also for policy analysts.