Call for participants: Research workshop on social science perspectives on the healthcare policy challenges in the emerging economies

 

Call for participants

 

Social science perspectives on the healthcare policy challenges in the emerging economies

 

Research workshop

 

Date: 28th October 2019

Venue: King’s College London

 

The pursuit of ‘universal health coverage’ (UHC) has become a worldwide imperative for achieving universalised healthcare, enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 3, yet the concept obfuscates much. There is ambivalence towards issues of equity and solidarity in healthcare systems, and a claimed ‘pragmatism’ regarding the opening of healthcare to greater commercial activity. The roll out of neoliberalisation processes across the social sector, the negative implications of prolonged austerity on the accessibility and quality of healthcare as well as insufficient institutional capacities and human workforce all continue to pose obstacles to the achievement of equitable UHC in the emerging economies.

 

Seeking to unpack and critique the dominant policy paradigm and on-going healthcare policy challenges in the emerging economies, the Department of International Development at King’s College London and the Social Policy Forum Research Centre at Bogazici University are hosting a one-day workshop, funded by the British Academy.

 

Researchers interested in the critical application of social science perspectives to the study of healthcare in the emerging economies are cordially invited to submit an application to participate in this workshop. The workshop will provide a platform for researchers to present and discuss new empirical research that uses social science approaches in the study of healthcare in the emerging economies. Through feedback and discussion we aim to identify opportunities for further study and collaboration. The call is open, but we are particularly interested in work on:

 

    • Practices of commodification, de-commodification and re-commodification in healthcare provision and financing
    • The role of international organisations in shaping domestic healthcare policies in the emerging economies
    • Social and political analysis of policy innovations in the field of social policy designed to guarantee the protection of health with equity
    • The mechanisms through which for-profit organisations increases their influence in healthcare
    • Regulatory challenges posed by that the increased role of the private sector in healthcare
    • Consumerism in health care
    • The role of social movements including patient groups in healthcare policymaking around the for-profit sector
    • The role of professions in healthcare policymaking around the for-profit sector
    • The impact of austerity on healthcare policymaking and healthcare systems.

 

 

Applications for participation should be submitted by email to spf@boun.edu.tr by 5pm (BST) on 1st August. Please put Research Workshop 28th October in the subject line and submit either

 

    • a 250-word abstract for an empirically-based paper you would like to present in the workshop, or,
    • a 300-word personal statement outlining your current research and why you are interested in attending the workshop and being a discussant.

 

There is no registration fee for this workshop. Lunch and dinner will be provided for workshop participants and those travelling from outside London will be offered reimbursement for travel costs.

Any queries regarding the event can be directed to Dr Volkan Yilmaz on spf@boun.edu.tr

Event organisers: Dr Volkan Yilmaz (Bogazici University) and Professor Susan F. Murray and Dr Benjamin Hunter (King’s College London)