Research Associate for Health System Reform in India

Harvard University, United States

Updated: 1 day ago
Location: Cambridge, MASSACHUSETTS
Deadline: ;

Details


Title Research Associate for Health System Reform in India
School Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Department/Area Department of Global Health and Population
Position Description
The Department of Global Health and Population at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health seeks to hire a Research Associate (doctorate plus at least two years’ experience) to contribute to health system-level reform in India. The Research Associate will contribute to the India Health Systems Reform project, a large-scale study that aims to advance India’s goal of universal health coverage – providing affordable and equitable access to good quality care for all without major financial hardship – through rigorous research and practicum-based mentoring of promising junior health policy/system researchers in India. 
 
Over the past few years, India has introduced several major healthcare reforms like the National Health Mission (NHM), Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) and the Health and Wellness Center (HWC) Programs, and the recent National Digital Health Mission (NDHM). In addition, India has implemented various state-level initiatives on health financing and healthcare delivery—all seeking to improve the health system’s performance. There have been significant achievements, especially in increasing access and utilization of health services. However, India continues to face challenges in achieving better health system outcomes such as assuring financial risk protection, affordable and equitable access to quality healthcare, efficiency in service delivery, and citizen satisfaction about how the health system performs. 
 
The work portfolio includes in-depth analyses related to urban health, non-communicable diseases, citizen satisfaction, provider quality of care, financial barriers to access, and prescription behaviors of health providers. There is a special focus on the interactions between public and private parts of the health system, including the mix of providers as well as the source of financing. The analytical work contributes to the health policy reform cycle at the state and national level, and in some cases involves pilot experimentation around innovative models of health financing, health care delivery, strategic purchasing, and governance. 
 
The project also support two major capacity building initiatives among researchers and policymakers in India. (1) The Flagship Course for Health Systems Strengthening and Sustainable Financing is targeted at include senior officials from national and state governments and representatives from selected research and academic institutions. (2) A new practicum-based professional learning experience will help promising junior researchers in India gain and practice skills in health system assessment, health system diagnosis, health policy reform design and evaluation, and political assessment of health policy reform options. 
 
The project is led by Dr. Winnie Yip, Principal Investigator and Professor of Global Health Policy and Economics in the Department of Global Health and Population. The vibrant team of Boston-based faculty and researchers have disciplinary expertise in economics, evaluation science, health policy and management, clinical medicine, organizational behavior, and political science, and are committed to advancing the study of health systems in complex environments. The project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. More information about the project is available here: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/india-health-systems/ .
 
 
Specific responsibilities
 
This Research Associate will develop and execute a research agenda together with Professor Winnie Yip and other team members.
 
1.       Contribute substantially to the development of teaching cases that examine policy experience in India or other countries as related to current health system-level performance challenges in India. Content may include urban health, non-communicable diseases, citizen satisfaction, provider quality of care, financial barriers to access, and prescription behaviors of health providers. There is a special focus on the interactions between public and private parts of the health system, including the mix of providers as well as the source of financing.
 
2.      Contribute substantially to analyses of the roles of public and private sectors in primary care financing and delivery in India. 
 
3.      Commensurate with experience, participate in capacity-building and training activities in areas of expertise. Develop training materials, teach training sessions where appropriate, and contribute to on-going mentorship activities within a practicum-based learning experience for promising junior health policy/system researchers in India. 
 
4.      Contribute substantially to the design, implementation, and evaluation of experiments in innovative models of financing, health care delivery, strategic purchasing and/or governance. 
 
5.      Guide and supervise Boston-based research assistants in relevant areas of expertise. 
 
6.      Write-up research results, including contributing to project reports and co/lead-authoring scientific papers and publishing in leading journals.
 
7.      Actively engage in dissemination activities and deliver effective presentations as part of policy analysis and dialogue with interested stakeholders including government officials and donor agencies. 
Basic Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have a) completed an academic degree related to health systems reform, while also bringing significant experience b) conducting health system-level analyses and/or reform in one or more LMICs, and c) contributing to capacity building activities within the context of LMICs.
 
The level of degree earned (master’s or doctorate) and years of research experience will determine the level and title of the position, such as Research Assistant (master’s), Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (doctorate), or Research Associate (doctorate plus more than two years’ research experience).
 
Required qualifications include:
 
  • Academic degree in a field related to health policy/health systems with strong disciplinary training in social science, especially in the fields of health economics, industrial organization, organizational behavior, political economy, or public health.
  • At least two years of field experience directly involved with health policy and reform in one or more LMICs.
  • Experience teaching or mentoring health policy researchers in LMICS         
Additional Qualifications
  • Experience supervising research staff preferred.
  • Experience managing relationships related to internationally-funded development organizations, such as the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation preferred.


 
 Additional considerations
  • The appointment is until June 30, 2025.
  • Depending on public health conditions, some travel is required to work with local partners and liaise with stakeholders.
Special Instructions
Please apply via “apply for this job” button above. 
Contact Information
Kaitlin Coulter
Contact Email [email protected]
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.
Minimum Number of References Required 2
Maximum Number of References Allowed 2
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