LIST OF PANELS

The field of comparative policy analysis responds to the need of policymakers to be ‘systematic, evidence-based, transparent, efficient and accountable (Geva-May et al, 2018).’  Comparative health policy analysis and its practical counterpart, policy exchange, have been increasingly common since the Second World War, driven by improved communication and more tightly interwoven global governance and policy (Dolowitz and Marsh, 1996). 

It is unquestionable that policymakers and analysts are continuously learning from health policy implemented elsewhere.  Nevertheless, there continue to be gaps regarding precisely what information is utilised and in what way when the decision is made to draw on policy from one context for the purpose of application in another (Wolf and Baehler, 2018).  Understanding what constitutes evidence from the point of view of policymakers and how this evidence is utilised is essential to undertaking effective research in this field.  That is, better insight into decision-making processes will help to ensure the appropriate placement and relevance of evidence intended to guide good practice in policy development. 

This panel seeks to present explorations and analyses of how the adoption and transference of health policy and practice across different contexts has (or has not) been achieved in real-world situations.  This includes the adoption of health policy within or between countries and the adjustment of policy implementation and practice to increase responsiveness to local contexts and/or to the health needs of sub-populations.

Papers from a variety of disciplines and methodological approaches will be welcomed.  We are particularly interested in questions regarding how decisions were made to adopt or adapt health policy for local use and what implications this decision-making process has for increasing utilisation of evidence in the policy–transfer process.  Papers are also welcome to explore whether different policy outcomes are result of differences in the policies themselves, the political and cultural environments within which they are applied, in the problems they seek to address, or some combination of these.