Health Systems and Reform

As we welcome 2025, Health Systems & Reform celebrates another year of impactful contributions to advancing global health systems! 🎉

We are grateful to our authors, reviewers, and readers for being part of this journey. Together, we look forward to another year of collaboration and critical research in 2025.

🔗 Stay connected as we continue to share innovative ideas and solutions for health systems.

How is digitalized peer support changing patient-provider relationships in Japan?
In her latest article, Miwako Hosoda investigates the impact of online peer support on patient empowerment and healthcare dynamics in Japan.

The study reveals how digital tools, including virtual reality spaces, can improve patient comfort and disease management. While noting challenges such as technical limitations and concerns about accessibility, Hosoda's research primarily shows how these digital initiatives are reshaping traditional patient roles, fostering more active and collaborative participation in healthcare.

Read more here: https://buff.ly/4exDBmW

Explore the transformative impact of internet telemedicine on China's healthcare landscape!

In their comprehensive study, Terence C Cheng and Winnie Yip explore the rapidly evolving landscape of internet telemedicine in this country. The authors trace its development from early information networks to today's sophisticated online healthcare ecosystem.

Their insightful analysis covers:
➡️ The unique public-private mix in China's telemedicine market
➡️ Innovative pricing models and platform-based healthcare delivery
➡️ Challenges in accessibility, affordability, and quality of care

Read the full article: https://buff.ly/3YwsOU5

Discover how AI can revolutionize health systems in low and middle-income countries! 🌍💻🏥

África Periáñez, Ana Fernández Del Río, Ivan Nazarov, Enric Jané, Moiz Hassan, Aditya Rastogi and Dexian Tang present the Causal Foundry AI and Reinforcement Learning platform, which integrates with digital health tools to deliver adaptive interventions and improve health system performance.

Learn how this innovative approach can enhance supply chain operations, patient management, and capacity building in resource-constrained settings.

Read the full article: https://buff.ly/3Vu9lCX

Discover how objective-oriented health systems reform can address key underlying system-level performance problems!

In this article, Joseph Kutzin, Susan P. Sparkes, Alexandra J. Earle, Agnes Gatome-Munyua, and Nirmala Ravishankar outline a practical framework emphasizing problem orientation, policy consistency, and continuous evaluation. Drawing on case studies from Burundi and Kyrgyzstan, they demonstrate how aligning reforms with clearly defined objectives can improve equity, financial protection, and system efficiency.

Read their full article here: https://buff.ly/3CSdbzb