Transparency interventions to improve health system outcomes in low and middle-income countries: a narrative systematic review

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the types of transparency interventions in the health systems of the low-income and middle-income countries and the outcomes of such interventions in those systems.

Method: We searched major medical databases including PubMed, Embase and Scopus, for any kind of interventional study on transparency in health systems. We also looked for additional sources of information in organisational websites, grey literature and reference checking. Using the PRISMA algorithm for identifying related studies, we included 24 articles.

Results: Our initial search, from 1980 to August 2021, retrieved 407 articles, 24 of which were narratively analysed. Response to a problem (mostly corruption) was the main reason for the initiation of a transparency intervention. Transparency interventions differed in terms of types, performance methods, collaboration partners and outcomes. They help improve the health system mostly in the short term and in some cases, long term.

Conclusion: Although our findings revealed that transparency initiatives could reduce some problems such as counterfeit drugs and corruption, and improve health indicators in a short term, still their sustainability remains a concern. Health systems need robust interventions with clearly defined and measured outcomes, especially sustainable outcomes to tackle corruption fundamentally.

Keywords: health policy; public health; systematic review.

Figure 1

PRISMA diagram for selection of articles.