The Review of Country’s Global Health Strategy Development Process and the Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism of Global Health Strategy in Eight Countries

Abstract

This study aimed to explore process for the selection of global health issues, frameworks for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities, and the management of global health strategies internationally, and to provide recommendations on future development process of Thailand’s global health strategy. This study collected data through descriptive literature search and document reviews. Literature search was conducted from July to August 2017 and was updated in August 2019. Global health strategies of eight countries were selected as case studies, namely Canada, Japan, Norway, the USA, Switzerland, England, Australia, and Thailand. This study found that in most countries, the ministries of foreign affairs were responsible for the development and the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of global health strategy. The widely used principles for the selection of global health issues comprised: (1) the globally threathening health problems which also threatened own country, and (2) the country’s public health and foreign policies. Deliberative discussion and consultation with stakeholders were the methods that all eight countries employed to select global health issues for the development of their global health strategic framework. There was no evidence of using quantitative methods or weighting methods for selection of global health issues. The main principles underpinning the M&E activities focused on: (1) incorporating the M&E activities as an integral part of the global health strategic framework at the beginning of the process; (2) evaluating both outcomes and impacts (if possible) and (3) appropriately designing the M&E process that fits with the implementation of the strategic framework.