International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Political Impetus: Towards a Successful Agenda-Setting for Inclusive Health Policies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries; Comment on “Shaping the Health Policy Agenda: The Case of Safe Motherhood Policy in Vietnam”

Document Type : Commentary

Authors
Xiaoguang Yang
Xu Qian
School of Public Health & Global Health Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
10.15171/ijhpm.2016.10
Abstract
Agenda-setting is a crucial step for inclusive health policies in the low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Enlightened by Ha et al manuscript, this commentary paper argues that ‘political impetus’ is the key to the successful agenda-setting of health policies in LMICs, though other determinants may also play the role during the process. This Vietnamese case study presents a good example for policy-makers of other LMICs; it offers insights for contexts where there are limited health resources and poor health performance. Further research which compares various stages of the health policy process across countries, is much needed.
Keywords
Inclusive Policy
Political Impetus
Maternal Health
Vietnam
Subjects
  1. Ha BT, Mirzoev T, Mukhopadhyay M. Shaping the health policy agenda: the case of safe motherhood policy in Vietnam. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4(11):741-746. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.153
  2. Howlett M, Ramesh M, Perl A. Studying Public Policy: Policy Cycles and Policy Subsystems. Toronto: Oxford University Press; 1995.
  3. Kingdon JW, Thurber JA. Agendas, Alternatives, and Public Policies. Boston: Little, Brown; 1984.
  4. Gaventa J. Finding the spaces for change: a power analysis. IDS Bulletin. 2006;37(6):23-33.
  5. Bennett S, Corluka A, Doherty J, et al. Influencing policy change: the experience of health think tanks in low-and middle-income countries. Health Policy Plan. 2012;27(3):194-203. Doi:10.1093/heapol/czr035

  • Received Date 29 November 2015
  • Revised Date 02 February 2016
  • Accepted Date 02 February 2016
  • First Published Date 01 April 2016
  • Published Date 01 April 2016