Learning is widely recognized to be fundamental to health systems strengthening and the achievement of health goals. Never has this been clearer than in the case of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which health systems that have learned – from experience and from available science and knowledge – have often coped better.
But what does it mean to be a learning health system? Constructive discussions and action on learning health systems have been held back by the lack of a shared and comprehensive understanding of the issue.
This webinar launched the new flagship report from the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research – Learning health systems: pathways to progress – that outlines a framework for how learning occurs in health systems and also the practical actions that can be taken to strengthen learning within health systems. It featured presentations and discussions from the report’s authors and contributors, including policy-makers with on-the-ground experience building learning health systems.
Agenda and speakers
Chair
- Prof. Irene AGYEPONG, Dodowa Health Research Center and member of the Faculty of Public Health of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeon
Opening remarks
- Dr Soumya SWAMINATHAN, Chief Scientist, World Health Organization
- Prof. David PETERS, Edgar Berman Chair in International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Presentation of the report
- Dr Kabir SHEIKH, Policy Advisor, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization
Panel discussion
- Dr Chikwe IHEKWEAZU, Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control
- Dr Leslie ROLLOCK, Senior Medical Officer of Health, Ministry of Health and Wellness of Barbados
- Dr Wuleta LEMMA, Honorary Director, Center for Global Digital Health and AI, Wollo University
- Dr Seye ABIMBOLA, Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Q&A
Concluding remarks
- Dr Abdul GHAFFAR, Executive Director, Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, World Health Organization