Embedding RApid Reviews in Health Systems Decision-Making (ERA) in India

The Government of India has demonstrated commitment towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by initiating several high profile health systems reforms under its Ayushman Bharat scheme. This policy shift, as well as the ongoing agenda of India’s National Health Mission, require the demand-driven and timely generation and use of research valued and prioritised by health systems stakeholders. Reviews of health policy and systems research evidence can support decision-makers by providing relevant and actionable evidence at every step in the decision-making process. Rapid reviews are a form of evidence synthesis in which components of the systematic review process are tailored, modified and optimised to enable the production of information in a timely manner and in a contextualised fashion.

The project of the George Institute for Global Health, India (TGI) in collaboration with the National Health Systems Resource Centre, India has the following objectives: 

1. To develop and understand operationalization of a rapid evidence syntheses platform, response to health policy and systems decision making  in India;
2. To develop and implement tools for efficient production of rapid reviews, rapid policy briefs and other evidence syntheses products;
3. To catalyse in-country collaboration of with evidence syntheses specialists, policymakers and other stakeholders (including patient groups and civil society organizations) to foster demand and use of rapid reviews and other evidence syntheses products in HPSR decision making; and
4. To strengthen institutional capacity to develop and disseminate rapid reviews and other related knowledge translation products.

To know more about the Rapid Evidence Synthesis work

• Download brochure (PDF 422 KB)
• Download flyer (PDF 74 KB)

Ensuring Health Systems Capacity for COVID-19 and Beyond : Evidence Series

The series aims to provide high quality and contextualised evidence from systematic reviews or rapid evidence synthesis to work on the opportunity the COVID-19 scenario offers i.e., to build a strong, resilient and equitable health system in India and other low and middle income countries. Our team works closely with decision makers and either conducts rapid evidence synthesis, or scans for rigorous systematic reviews with high-quality evidence to deliver on optimising health systems capacity during the pandemic and beyond.

• Frontline health workers in COVID-19 prevention and control: rapid evidence synthesis
• Self-management and action plans for preventing acute exacerbations due to COPD: evidence summary
• Encouraging health workers to use mHealth for delivering primary healthcare services: policy brief
• Medications to reduce emergency hospital admissions due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma: policy brief

Rapid Evidence Synthesis (RES) Products

Policy recommendations: Health systems interventions for meeting SDG targets on neonatal mortality in India: rapid evidence synthesis

Policy brief: Improving uptake for non-communicable disease screening

Policy brief: Health and Well-being of Waste Workers in India

Policy recommendations to improve vaccine acceptance and reduce vaccine hesitancy

Preparedness for crisis response to the second wave of COVID-19 in India: policy brief

Rapid Evidence Synthesis (RES) on mid-level health providers (MLHPs) for primary health care

Rapid Evidence Synthesis (RES) on palmer angle of tri-radius for breast cancer screening in women

Primary prevention of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at the primary healthcare level: rapid policy brief

Accuracy of screening tests for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care: rapid evidence synthesis

Improving quality of care in children and adolescents with asthma in primary health care: rapid policy brief