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Comment
. 2015 Aug 2;4(12):837-9.
doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.145.

Policy Capacity Is Necessary but Not Sufficient Comment on "Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity"

Sheldon Gen  1 , Amy Conley Wright  2
Affiliations
Comment

Policy Capacity Is Necessary but Not Sufficient Comment on "Health Reform Requires Policy Capacity"

Sheldon Gen et al. Int J Health Policy Manag. .

Abstract

Policy capacity focuses on the managerial and organizational abilities to inform policy decisions with sound research and analysis, and facilitate policy implementation with operational efficiency. It stems from a view of the policy process that is rational and positivistic, in which optimal policy choices can be identified, selected, and implemented with objectivity. By itself, however, policy capacity neglects the political aspects of policy-making that can dominate the process, even in health policies. These technical capabilities are certainly needed to advance reforms in health policies, but they are not sufficient. Instead, they must be complemented with public engagement and policy advocacy to ensure support from the public that policies are meant to serve.

Keywords: Policy Advocacy; Policy Analysis; Policy Capacity; Public Engagement.

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Comment on

  • Health reform requires policy capacity.
    Forest PG, Denis JL, Brown LD, Helms D. Forest PG, et al. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015 Apr 17;4(5):265-6. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.85. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015. PMID: 25905476 Free PMC article.

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