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A critical review of options for effective health policy formulation in Jordan

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Abstract

Jordan has in general a good healthcare system; yet it has been always exposed to both internal and external challenges which compromise the gains it has achieved over the years. This thesis examines one of the internal challenges, as something that concerns many Jordanians, is arguably holding back and disadvantaging the health sector, yet is something within Jordan’s power to address it.

This internal challenge concerns the main constraints to the health sector improvement is the absence of an overall national health policy despite the existence of a constitutional mechanism. This is particularly acute in Jordan as the publicly funded health sector has three largely autonomous and parallel clusters of provision. Thus, this study intends to critically review the options for effective health policy formulation in Jordan based on investigating the current and previous status of the national health policy formulation and its main challenges. This has been done in the context of study of the literature about health policy formulation, and of the potential for and limitations to transfer of policy and mechanisms from one country to another; and with a focus on low and middle income countries.

The empirical study uses ‘qualitatively-driven’ mixed methods, the data was primarily obtained by conducting semi-structured interviews with High Health Council members and key Stakeholders in health sector and health related entities.

The empirical study uses ‘qualitatively-driven’ mixed methods, the data primarily obtained by conducting semi-structured interviews with High Health Council members and key Stakeholders in health sector and health related entities.

The main results reveal that the national health policy formulation in Jordan faces numerous challenges; these challenges are not limited only to internal issues, as Jordan is vulnerable to the regional incidents. The results also reveal that the respondents recommended more than one option for formulating the national health policy effectively.

However, based on the evidences and respondents’ views; and the experience reflected in the literature, the most effective option for the national health policy formulation has been identified from the options put forward. This option is argued to give the best possibilities, and harnesses indigenous skills and resources to potentially best effect.

Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Keywords Jordan, health policy, health policy formulation, national health strategy, Ministry of Health, High Health Council, challenges, effective policy options

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