Primary Health Care | Results for Development https://r4d.org/health/primary-health-care/ Corporate Website Tue, 06 Oct 2026 16:17:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 From Evidence To Action: Building a Health Policy Feedback Mechanism in Indonesia https://r4d.org/resources/from-evidence-to-action-building-a-health-policy-feedback-mechanism-in-indonesia/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 21:38:51 +0000 https://r4d.org/?post_type=resource&p=18428 In large, decentralized countries like Indonesia, national health policies are interpreted and implemented by officials at many different levels, from provinces and districts to individual health facilities. At each level, policies may be adapted to local realities. But what local officials learn through implementation does not always make its way back to national decision-makers. That […]

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]]> In large, decentralized countries like Indonesia, national health policies are interpreted and implemented by officials at many different levels, from provinces and districts to individual health facilities. At each level, policies may be adapted to local realities. But what local officials learn through implementation does not always make its way back to national decision-makers. That can make it hard to understand what is working, what is impeding progress, and what may need to change. In Indonesia, participatory national-subnational planning forums exist, but meaningful subnational input into policy evaluation remains limited.

To address these challenges, Indonesia’s Health Development Policy Agency (BKPK) in the Ministry of Health is working with Results for Development and Gadjah Mada University to build and test a structured, two-way policy feedback mechanism. This brief shares key lessons from developing the mechanism and its first pilot phase of implementation with three provincial health offices, six district health offices, and local health policy and systems research institutions from those districts.

Early lessons suggest that policy feedback mechanisms require trust and relationship-building, clear roles, regular opportunities for joint reflection, and institutional arrangements that enable implementation evidence to influence policy decisions. Ultimately, Indonesia’s leaders hope to embed two-way feedback and learning as a routine governance practice that connects policy design with implementation and enables adaptation to local realities.

This work brings together learning from R4D’s Asia Health Policy and Systems Research Initiative and Advancing Realistic Health System Design and Planning project, both funded by the Gates Foundation.

A related blog examines the development and early implementation of this policy feedback mechanism in Indonesia. Read it here. 

 

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]]> Can Local Experience Improve National Health Policy? https://r4d.org/blog/can-local-experience-improve-national-health-policy/ https://r4d.org/blog/can-local-experience-improve-national-health-policy/#respond Mon, 05 Oct 2026 18:59:43 +0000 https://r4d.org/?p=18412 The post Can Local Experience Improve National Health Policy? appeared first on Results for Development.

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]]> https://r4d.org/blog/can-local-experience-improve-national-health-policy/feed/ 0 What it takes to embed nurturing care in primary health care https://r4d.org/blog/what-it-takes-to-embed-nurturing-care-in-primary-health-care/ https://r4d.org/blog/what-it-takes-to-embed-nurturing-care-in-primary-health-care/#comments Fri, 25 Sep 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://r4d.org/?p=18349 The post What it takes to embed nurturing care in primary health care appeared first on Results for Development.

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]]> https://r4d.org/blog/what-it-takes-to-embed-nurturing-care-in-primary-health-care/feed/ 1 Translating an ambitious vision into realistic health system progress: Insights from a global convening https://r4d.org/blog/translating-an-ambitious-vision-into-realistic-health-system-progress/ https://r4d.org/blog/translating-an-ambitious-vision-into-realistic-health-system-progress/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2026 18:01:19 +0000 https://r4d.org/?p=18155 The post Translating an ambitious vision into realistic health system progress: Insights from a global convening appeared first on Results for Development.

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]]> https://r4d.org/blog/translating-an-ambitious-vision-into-realistic-health-system-progress/feed/ 1 Community pharmacies don’t need to prove their value. They need a place in the system. https://r4d.org/blog/community-pharmacies-need-a-place-in-the-system/ https://r4d.org/blog/community-pharmacies-need-a-place-in-the-system/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:49:48 +0000 https://r4d.org/?p=18141 The post Community pharmacies don’t need to prove their value. They need a place in the system. appeared first on Results for Development.

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]]> https://r4d.org/blog/community-pharmacies-need-a-place-in-the-system/feed/ 1 Inside Ghana’s Free Primary Health Care reform: What it takes to design system change https://r4d.org/blog/inside-ghanas-free-primary-health-care-reform/ https://r4d.org/blog/inside-ghanas-free-primary-health-care-reform/#respond Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:00:22 +0000 https://r4d.org/?p=18180 The post Inside Ghana’s Free Primary Health Care reform: What it takes to design system change appeared first on Results for Development.

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]]> https://r4d.org/blog/inside-ghanas-free-primary-health-care-reform/feed/ 0 Building stronger health systems through better data use https://r4d.org/projects/building-stronger-health-systems-through-better-data-use/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:00:06 +0000 https://r4d.org/?post_type=project&p=17856 R4D is designing and facilitating cross-country learning exchanges where health leaders gain the skills to analyze service delivery data, detect health system disruptions and use evidence to guide action in their countries.

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]]> From silos to systems: Multi-sectoral coordination for optimal child development https://r4d.org/blog/silos-to-systems-multi-sectoral-coordination-for-optimal-child-development/ https://r4d.org/blog/silos-to-systems-multi-sectoral-coordination-for-optimal-child-development/#respond Wed, 17 Jun 2026 10:00:31 +0000 https://r4d.org/?p=17933 The post From silos to systems: Multi-sectoral coordination for optimal child development appeared first on Results for Development.

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]]> https://r4d.org/blog/silos-to-systems-multi-sectoral-coordination-for-optimal-child-development/feed/ 0 Community Health Workers and the Expansion of First 1000 Days Services in South Africa https://r4d.org/resources/community-health-workers-and-the-expansion-of-first-1000-days-services-in-south-africa/ Tue, 16 Jun 2026 02:32:07 +0000 https://r4d.org/?post_type=resource&p=17923 The first 1,000 days of a child’s life — from conception through age two — are among the most critical for lifelong development. This country study from the Early Childhood Workforce Initiative examines how South Africa’s Community Health Workers are being called upon to deliver an expanded set of health, nutrition, parenting, and early stimulation […]

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]]> The first 1,000 days of a child’s life — from conception through age two — are among the most critical for lifelong development. This country study from the Early Childhood Workforce Initiative examines how South Africa’s Community Health Workers are being called upon to deliver an expanded set of health, nutrition, parenting, and early stimulation services under the 2015 National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy. Drawing on interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders at national, provincial, and local levels, the report explores implementation experiences in two provinces — the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal — and surfaces barriers, opportunities, and lessons applicable across the country.

The study identifies key challenges to expanding first 1,000 days services and offers concrete recommendations for national and provincial health departments seeking to build a CHW workforce capable of delivering comprehensive early childhood services at scale.

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]]> Mainstreaming private pharmacies and drug shops into primary health care — why now? https://r4d.org/blog/mainstreaming-private-pharmacies-and-drug-shops-into-primary-health-care-why-now/ https://r4d.org/blog/mainstreaming-private-pharmacies-and-drug-shops-into-primary-health-care-why-now/#respond Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:54:57 +0000 https://r4d.org/?p=17912 The post Mainstreaming private pharmacies and drug shops into primary health care — why now? appeared first on Results for Development.

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