EVIPNet Malaysia                                                                                                                  

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Significant gap exists between what is known about effective health interventions or health system designs and what evidence is used in health decision and policy-making. There are a number of explanations for this discrepancy but key among them is the issue of accessing evidence when it is needed and applying it to the local context. Studies examining the relationship between evidence and health decision-making suggest some common principles for improving the use of evidence:

• The needs for evidence must be articulated by local decision-makers.
• It is critical that the evidence be analyzed and interpreted based on local context.
• The evidence must be trusted by local decision-makers; therefore it must be of high quality and from credible sources.
• Decision-makers need access to evidence in a timely manner.
• Evidence needs to be disseminated using proven methods.
• Information must be packaged in a user-friendly format.
• Evidence needs to be valued in order for it to be used. Therefore, encouraging a culture that is supportive of the importance of evidence (both creating it and using it) is key.
• To be truly responsive, it is essential that mechanisms exist to commission new research when a gap in evidence has been identified.
• Decision-makers should participate in setting objectives and formulating the agenda for both research and dissemination activities.
• More opportunities for local researchers and decision-makers to work together are needed.
• Concerted efforts and dedicated resources are required to develop and evaluate methods to decrease the gap.

Recognizing the ned to improve the use of evidence in healthcare decision making, the World Health Organization initiated Evidence-Informed Policy Network (EVIPNet). EVIPNet comprises networks that bring together country teams at both regional and global levels. Presently, the global EVIPNet country teams are:

• EVIPNet Asia
• EVIPNet Africa
• EVIPNet Americas
• EVIPNet Eastern Mediterranean

EVIPNet Asia was launched in June 2005 in Kuala Lumpur and is supported by WHO in the Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO). Country team members of EVIPNet Asia are:

• Malaysia
• Lao PDR
• Philippines
• Vietnam
• China (Beijing, Shandong and Sichuan provinces)

Specific objectives of each country team are to:

• Enhance linkages among the producers and users of evidence
• Acquire, assess, and adapt systematic reviews and other types of evidence relevant to the needs of decision-makers
• Commission and/or update systematic reviews of health research (especially local research) or communicate the need for specific reviews to groups that are involved in knowledge synthesis
• Commission or communicate the need for new health research when gaps are identified and assist with the setting of research agendas for more policy-relevant research
• Design, implement and promote strategies to enhance uptake of evidence by decision and policy-makers and those who seek to influence them
• Provide training opportunities that develop the capacity of decision and policy-makers to access and apply evidence
• Provide decision and policy-makers with 'one-stop shopping' for high quality evidence
• Build capacity to meet policy-makers needs
• Support the involvement of citizens and relevant community-based organisations, including civil society, consumer advocacy groups and the mass media (through participation, training or dissemination activities)
• Partner with existing organizations engaged in any of the above functions

• EVIPNet Focus Area
• EVIPNet Focus Area
  • Primary Research
    • Medical Safety – Inpatient Care
    • Medical Safety – Primary Care
    • Medication Safety
    • Culture – The Patient’s Perception
    • Handoff Communication
    • Vaccine Safety
    • Laboratory Safety
    • Dental Safety
    • Patient Falls
    • Blood Safety
  • Systematic Reviews
    • Culture
    • Handoff Communication
• EVIPNet Expanded Area
• Collaboration with the Council on Health Research and Development (COHRED)
• Other EVIPNet Links
• Workshop on Policy Communication for Research
• Knowledge Sharing
• Policy Brief Workshop and 3rd EVIPNet Asia Steering Committee Meeting