Program overview: The meta-research and evidence synthesis unit is dedicated to improving healthcare and the knowledge ecosystem through: Meta-research(research on research) : to analyse the philosophical basis, methods, reporting, evaluation, and incentives for research. We also specialise in research priority setting, and core outcome set development. Evidence synthesis: conducting scoping reviews, evidence gap maps, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, rapid evidence synthesis, and qualitative evidence synthesis. Capacity building: On evidence synthesis , meta-research, and its application. Program objectives: The overarching objectives of this program are to: To improve the quality of primary research, evidence synthesis, and knowledge translation. To foster pro-justice and pro-equity approaches in the knowledge ecosystem. To conduct high quality evidence synthesis using fit for purpose methods to inform policy, and practice.

Program overview: Our global Health Systems Strengthening for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program is focused on the conduct of multidisciplinary collaborative research to support countries’ strategic progression towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3.8: Universal access to high-quality essential health care. Led by Dr Laura Downey, our global team comprises health economists, health policy specialists, epidemiologists, statisticians, and clinician researchers. We have active research and advocacy partnerships with academia, civil society organizations, government departments, health service providers, and multilateral organizations in every continent, where our research predominantly focuses on taking a primary healthcare approach to ensure that everyone can equitably access the essential health services they require without experiencing financial hardship in doing so. The types of research we conduct fall broadly into the following domains: Designing an

Program overview: System reform is complex, long-term, and involves multiple stakeholders. Traditional evaluation methods, which often focus on short-term outcomes and linear cause-effect relationships, are often not well suited to informing or evaluating system change. The George Institute’s Evaluation and System Reform Program focuses on furthering the role of evaluation in system reform in recognition of the power of evaluative data to contribute to social change - this has implications for what is evaluated and how evaluations are conducted. There is an implicit equity agenda – recognising that systems need to reform to benefit those who need them most. We are concerned with: Conducting ‘mission critical’ evaluations, which in practice means scale, reach and equity Using participatory approaches at all stages, since this increases the potential of evaluation findings being relevant and used Building regular and timely cycles of feedback to imple

Program overview: Economic evaluation involves an assessment of the costs of outcomes of health sector interventions to determine their value for money to governments and other payers. This involves cost effectiveness or cost-utility or cost-benefit studies, carried out alongside intervention trials. The evidence from such studies is critical in informing government to optimize their investment decisions in the health sector. Health technology assessment (HTA) is a framework which governments use to embed the use of cost-effectiveness evidence in their decisions to fund new drugs, devices and medical procedures. It is increasing being used by governments around the world to ensure evidence-based investment of scarce health care resources and provides them a tool to achieve universal health coverage in a financially sustainable manner. We have an extensive ongoing program of economic evaluation and HTA studies led by our team of health economists along with researchers at the Insti

Program overview: While health workers drive population health outcomes, investments into their training, recruitment and retention often do not align with system goals resulting in wasted resources and worse health. This program investigates sustainable ways to build the workforce needed for universal health coverage. Using methods like discrete choice experiments, economic evaluations and analyses of survey and administrative datasets, we investigate health system incentives, policy interventions and financing models to improve the motivation, retention and training of health workers, reduce corruption and investigate the economic impacts and investment case for greater use of non-physician health workers. Program objectives: The program aims to contribute to the development and scale-up of sustainable interventions to tackle global workforce challenges and improve population health. View projects Program lead

Program overview: The number of older people globally is growing rapidly, yet many national health systems remain unprepared to meet their needs. A driving factor is that governments do not have adequate evidence to guide the design and delivery of appropriate health and social care services for older adults. The Ageing and Health Systems Program aims to produce new evidence to inform effective national and local health system responses to population ageing. The program includes applied policy studies and implementation research, embedding participatory co-design and priority setting methodologies to maximize translational impact. Program objectives: The overarching objectives of this program are to: Conduct participatory assessments of healthy ageing policy, program and service priorities to inform an effective health system response to population ageing. Harness the capacity of population health data to identify priority populations and opportunities to deliver e

Program overview: The health policy analysis group of the Health Systems Science Program seeks to understand and improve how agendas are set, policies are developed, and how these policies can shape - and be shaped by- health systems, societal understanding of health, and its determinants. The group is transdisciplinary in nature, and integrates expertise across health economics, sociology, political science, public health, international relations, modelling and qualitative research to conduct health policy analysis across the spectrum to conduct policy analysis across a range of approaches such as: Outcome oriented approaches: with the intent to identify the 'best' policy solution, through undertaking objective analyses of possible solutions by mapping or quantitatively assessing effectiveness, equity, or feasibility of implementing policies Mainstream approaches: to identify and analyse actors, interactions between them policy process and or to analyse how power and re

SMARThealth offers a new approach to disease detection, management and treatment – strengthening primary care systems, building the capacity of health workers, and improving health outcomes for patients. SMARThealth (Systematic Medical Appraisal, Referral and Treatment for common health conditions) was developed by The George Institute for the management of chronic diseases. It leverages a low-cost, digital platform which can be used by health workers to significantly improve patient care, especially in contexts where health services are limited. Deployed on hand-held digital devices, SMARThealth uses evidence-based algorithms and guidelines to help community health workers assess chronic disease risks for people in their communities. People identified to be needing further care are then referred via the platform for clinician follow up. Extending SMARThealth The first iteration of SMARThealth was ‘HealthTracker’ used in Australia in 2009 to analyse the electronic health records o

Program overview: Health and well-being are intrinsically impacted by socio-determinants related to carers, family, community, and service delivery across health and other sectors, within local country context. Socio-determinants are complex and can include dispossession, institutional racism, drug and alcohol, and debt, resulting in a lack of access to culturally safe services and intergenerational mistrust of services. However, sustainably integrating services within health and other sectors is challenging due to patient, organisational and policy and historical barriers.Our program aims to strengthen health systems resilience using interdisciplinary implementation research across different contexts, cultures and sectors, to holistically address socio-determinants of health so as to improve health equity. Program Objectives:  Examine and implement best practices in community engagement, partnerships and capacity-strengthening.  Embed WHO integrated people-centred

The George Institute for Global Health is a global medical research institute that focuses on non-communicable diseases and injury.  With centres in four countries (Australia, China, India and the UK) and offices and staff in many others, we are monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation.  As a global organisation experienced in operating across time zones with flexible working hours, we are well suited to working remotely and continuing to deliver on our mission to improve the health of millions of people worldwide.  A major focus for us is the safety and well-being of our staff across the globe and we are putting in place plans to ensure they are supported in their work and life, tailored for each setting we are in.    The George Institute will be monitoring external events and adjusting accordingly, with our staff, partners and research programs, front of mind. The importance of chronic disease co-morbidity in terms of the impact of COVID-19 infe