EVIPNet policy briefs

EVIPNet Africa's first series of policy briefs on malaria treatment

Six countries in sub-Saharan have developed their own set of policy briefs on how to improve access to malaria treatment working with EVIPNet (Evidence-informed policy network).

EVIPNet was set up in response to a 2005 World Health Assembly resolution calling for WHO to establish or strengthen “mechanisms to transfer knowledge in support of evidence-based public health and health care delivery systems and evidence-based related policies”

This is a significant achievement because it represents the first time that policy-makers, researchers, and members of civil society in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda have collaborated with each other to better use scientific evidence to produce health policies.

To develop the policy briefs, EVIPNet country teams adopted tools designed to use WHO guidelines, several systematic reviews addressing health systems issues, and national health information. The tools allow countries to make policy that responds to their own needs and resources.

The EVIPNet tools are now being applied to different problems in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. These include: maternal and child mortality; the integration of noncommunicable diseases programmes at community level; effective financing of primary health care; and outbreak response.

The International Journal of Technology Assessment and Health Care has published the six countries’ policy briefs in acknowledgement of their usefulness and high quality.

• Options for improving malaria treatment: Introduction
  Oxman, A. D., Yohannes, A. M., & Røttingen, J. (2010). Options for improving malaria treatment: Introduction. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 26(2), 1.
• EVIPNet Africa's first series of policy briefs to support evidence-informed policymaking
  Lavis, J. N., Panisset, U. (2010). EVIPNet Africa's first series of policy briefs to support evidence-informed policymaking. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 26(2), 4.
• Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria in Burkina Faso
  Kouyaté, B., Nana, V. (2010). Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria in Burkina Faso. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 26(2), 4.
• Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria in Cameroon
  Ongolo-Zogo, P., Bonono, R. C. (2010). Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria in Cameroon. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 26(2), 5.
• Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria in Central African Republic
  Gresenguet, G., Moyen, M., Koffi, B. & Bangamingo, J. P. (2010). Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria in Central African Republic. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 26(2), 4.
• Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria control in Ethiopia
  Kebede, A., Woyessa, A., Urga, K., Messelle, T. & Jima, D. (2010). Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria control in Ethiopia. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 26(2), 4.
• Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria control in Mozambique
  Mbofana, F., Machatine, G. & Moreira, C. (2010). Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria control in Mozambique. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 26(2), 4.
• Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria in the East African community
  Nabudere, N., Upunda, G. L. & Juma, M. (2010). Policy brief on improving access to artemisinin-based combination therapies for malaria control in the East African community. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 26(2), 5.