Episode #29
Transforming Health Systems Through Social Participation | Dheepa Rajan
Join us for a compelling conversation with Dr. Dheepa Rajan , who serves as a Health Systems Advisor at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies , as we explore what social participation means and how it can transform health policy and health system performance. Prior to joining the European Observatory, Deepa spent over 15 years at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in various health system roles, covering national health planning, health system performance, participatory governance, and primary health care. She has led landmark publications including the WHO Handbook on Social Participation, the Primary Healthcare Primer, and Health System Performance Assessment: A Framework for Policy Analysis. Trained as a medical doctor, followed by acquiring advanced degrees in health economics and policy in Europe and a doctorate on traditional medicine in India, she brings a uniquely global, grounded, and systems-focused lens to the conversation. In this episode, we unpack the WHO resolution on social participation, its goals and objectives, and what it means for governments in practice. While acknowledging barriers and challenges to achieving social participation in practice, Dheepa also shares inspiring real-world examples of the value social participation can have and how it can effectively influence health policy. Note: Dheepa's reflections here draw on her time at WHO headquarters and her current work at the European Observatory. They represent her personal views and experiences and are not an official WHO or Observatory view, position, or decision. Resources and Abbreviations WHO Resolution on Social Participation WHO Handbook on Social Participation DG - Director General ADG - Assistant Director General WHO DG Dialogues Chapters 00:00:00 - Introductions and episode overview 00:01:47 - Defining social participation 00:03:19 - Social participation vs. patient engagement 00:08:04 - Understanding the WHO Resolution on Social Participation 00:15:34 - How WHO works with member states 00:17:21 - Defining 'civil society' and types of civil society organisations 00:20:46 - Dheepa's journey into health system governance and social participation 00:25:37 - Benefits of social participation 00:28:58 - Case study of successful social participation in practice 00:33:05 - Barriers to social participation 00:42:58 - Dheepa's long-term dream for social participation 00:45:01 - Advice for stakeholders to engage with civil society better 00:46:16 - Advice for patient advocates and citizens to get involved in health policy 00:49:26 - Reflections with Caitlin and Clarinda Have feedback or suggestions for us? We'd love to hear from you! Website: notjustpatients.com LinkedIn: Not Just Patients Email: info@notjustpatients.com
