PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Health care spending in the United States remains significantly higher than that of other high-income nations, driving attention to the challenges facing cost, quality, and access in the system. Dr. Ashish K. Jha, dean of Brown University School of Public Health, emphasizes the importance of understanding how health care systems in other countries operate and how their strategies impact overall population health.
Jha recently announced the establishment of the Center for Health System Sustainability at the School of Public Health. The center aims to bring together researchers from around the world to analyze various health systems to gain insights that can benefit all nations. During a panel discussion on April 23, Jha highlighted the center’s mission, emphasizing the importance of learning from each other to enhance health care systems globally.
The center’s launch event provided a platform for faculty, students, researchers, scholars, and international partners to engage in discussions on pressing health policy challenges. Irene Papanicolas, now directing the Center for Health System Sustainability and a professor at the School of Public Health, highlighted the common goals shared by nations as they strive to improve healthcare delivery, ensure equity, and address global health challenges.
Papanicolas stressed the need for international comparisons to understand the impact of health policy decisions on population health outcomes. Collaborations like the International Collaborative on Costs, Outcomes, and Needs in Care will play a crucial role in generating comparative insights and actionable policy recommendations to help countries optimize patient care and establish sustainable health systems.
The Center for Health System Sustainability will leverage patient data and partnerships with experts from various regions to promote knowledge exchange. By fostering cooperation and sharing best practices globally, the center aims to drive positive transformation in healthcare systems and address common challenges like aging populations, chronic diseases, and rising healthcare costs. Ultimately, the goal is to reshape health systems and promote global health improvement beyond borders.