International Decision Support Initiative
International Decision Support Initiative
Content published on the iDSI gateway is preserved here.
iDSI, the International Decision Support Initiative, is a global reservoir of health, policy and economics expertise. We support countries to make better decisions about how to get the most from every dollar they spend on healthcare.
Providing access to unrivalled global knowledge from our core partners Global Health and Development Group (Imperial College London), HITAP (Thailand), PRICELESS SA (Wits School of Public Health, South Africa), and the Center for Global Development (USA), iDSI offers technical assistance to strengthen countries’ capacity for evidence-informed policymaking. Our knowledge products range from methodological insights, tools and guides for practitioners, to country case studies. The F1000 iDSI gateway provides an open, accessible platform for sharing this knowledge globally.
Real world examples of countries using evidence to set priorities, and generate better health and more value for money for their populations
Example topics include:
- Applications of evidence-informed priority setting and HTA: cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA), budget impact analyses (BIA), clinical guidelines, quality standards (QS) and indicators, pathways
- Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
- Infectious diseases, vaccines and antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
- Maternal/child health
- ‘Hot topic’ high-cost technologies, e.g. trastuzumab, renal dialysis, sofosbuvir…
- iDSI Reference Case Pilots
Best practice principles for developing sustainable institutions and environments for evidence-informed priority-setting
Example topics include:
- Roadmaps, business plans, conflict of interest policies, governance documents etc.
- Capacity-building: strategy and research, educational materials and training, demonstration projects
- HTA networks and hubs
- Political economy of priority-setting
- Engaging with the private sector
- Patient and public engagement (tools)
Methods for using evidence to understand trade-offs between different policy options, and to make ethical and good value decisions
Example topics include:
- Roadmaps, business Cost-effectiveness thresholds: conceptualising and estimation
- Accounting for health systems constraints in HTA
- Ethics and equity in HTA
- iDSI Reference Case principles and specifications
- Process and methods guides/manuals (for HTA, QS, guideline adaptation, systematic review etc.)
- Guide to Economic Analysis and Research (GEAR) online resource
- Patient and public engagement (methods and theory)
Implementing health technology assessment in public-financed health systems and accelerating progress towards UHC
Example topics include:
- Strategic purchasing models (e.g. purchaser-provider splits, pooling of health insurance schemes)
- Developing and implementing health benefits plans
- Linking HTA to incentives: pay-for-performance / quality outcome frameworks (QOF)
Maximising the cost-effectiveness of international aid and development in health and other sectors
Example topics include:
- iDSI Reference Case principles, specifications and pilots
- Analysis and advocacy work around value for money in aid and development
- Partnerships in global development
Understanding the key ingredients of stronger institutions and better decisions, and measuring success
Example topics include:
- Elements of the theory of change
- Knowledge translation