Global Health Policy
Latest News
Johns Hopkins Researchers Identify Two Distinct Perspectives on Power Imbalances in the Field of Global Health
By better understanding these differences in perspectives, global health organizations can improve health outcomes.
Health Policy Analysis Webinar Series Brings Together Global Health Policy Scholars
The health policy analysis webinar series was launched in April 2020 with the aim of holding research and policy discussions around global health policy issues.
Why Elder Abuse Remains Widespread but a Low Global Health Priority, Study Finds
Researchers investigated why organizations, governments, and politicians continue to under prioritize elder abuse.
Global Health Policy in the Health Systems Program
Our work on global health policy seeks to analyze the processes involved in policy development, both at the global level and within low- and middle-income countries. We apply theories and frameworks from political science, public administration and political economy to understand how power, in its many different forms, influences agenda setting, policy formulation and implementation—with the ultimate goal of ensuring that the interests of the poor and marginalized are represented in critical policy dialogues.
Our faculty conduct research on issues at the intersection of political science and global health, including the prioritization of different health issues on the political agenda, the role of the private sector, strengthening multi-sectoral collaboration towards positive health outcomes, policy advocacy in low-resource settings, donor-government relationships and donor transition, and the politics surrounding the adoption and implementation of controversial health policies.
Meet some of our global health policy faculty
Yusra Shawar, PhD, MPH, studies the global governance of health and the politics of health policy processes in low- and middle-income countries.
Jeremy Shiffman, PhD, MA, a political scientist, researches the politics of health policy-making in low-income countries and in global health governance.
Sara Bennett, PhD, MPhil, examines health policy and systems in low- and middle-income countries with a focus on institutional capacity, sustainability, and systems governance.
Examples of Latest Projects
Generating National Political Priority for Addressing Sexual Violence against Children: With funding from the Oak Foundation, faculty are leading a research project examining the generation of political priority for preventing and addressing child sexual abuse across six countries.
Strengthening the Effectiveness of National Children’s Care Systems: Political Analysis of Cambodia, Uganda and Zambia: With funding from the GHR Foundation, faculty are leading a set of studies examining the political, bureaucratic and economic forces shaping national children’s care systems in Cambodia, Uganda and Zambia—systems designed to protect children at risk.
Political Economy Analysis: Faculty in the Department of International Health and their partners conducted a problem-driven political economy analysis to understand how the local decision-making environment affects management and governance processes for health at the sub-national level in Kenya, Malawi and Uganda.
Opioid Abatement Politics: Analyzing the Subnational Scramble for Settlement Funds: Recent legal settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers offer an unprecedented opportunity to relieve a public health crisis. Faculty are conducting research on the role of politics in allocating these new funds in the state of Colorado.
Latest Publications and Reports
Publishing priorities in global health: A framework and empirical analysis
Global Public Health | September 2024
Catalyzing policy action to address antimicrobial resistance: Next steps for global governance
The South Centre | September 2024
Evaluating theory of change to improve the functioning of the network for improving quality of care for maternal, newborn and child health
PLOS Global Public Health | August 2024
Comparing priority received by global health issues: A measurement framework applied to tuberculosis, malaria, diarrhoeal diseases and dengue fever
BMJ Global Health | July 2024
Generating political priority for the health needs of the 21st century: A qualitative policy analysis on the prioritization of rehabilitation services in Uganda
International Journal of Health Policy and Management | June 2024