Date/Time Date(s) - 05/11/20253:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Speaker: Dr. Cristóbal Cuadrado (Associate Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Chile)
Title: From research to policy-making: bridging the gap and navigating the complexities of fragmented health systems
Abstract: Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) requires navigating the complexities of fragmented health systems and bridging the gap between evidence and policy, particularly in the face of increasing social and political challenges. This lecture emphasizes the importance of linking research expertise with decision-making and understanding the complex motivations of policymakers to ensure evidence is effectively utilized. It will explore the challenges and opportunities of advancing UHC through health reforms, drawing on the Chilean experience and insights from Latin America. Based on his personal experience as a researcher and policymaker, Dr. Cristóbal Cuadrado will discuss how interdisciplinary research can – and sometimes cannot – influence policy decisions, highlighting specific examples from his work on fiscal policies, health system financing, and pandemic response. By examining the political economy dynamics of health reforms, this lecture aims to provoke thought, especially among early-career researchers, and inspire them to see their role as transformative agents of change, with public health as a transformative endeavour. It offers a practical framework for researchers and policymakers seeking to create more equitable and integrated health systems by understanding how decisions are made in a complex reality.
Online Alternative: Zoom: https://mcmaster.zoom.us/j/93357198578 Meeting ID: 933 5719 8578 Passcode: 178867
Reception: Following the lecture, at 5:00 p.m., in the Great Hall, Alumni Memorial Hall (map)