FK-KMK UGM. Center for Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing UGM held a seminar on “Advancing Evidence-Informed Policy in Southeast Asia Region” on Monday (29/01) at the Auditorium on the 1st floor of Tahir Postgraduate Building of the Faculty.

Fadi El-Jardali, MPH., Ph.D. (WHO Consultant for Evidence-Informed Policy) said that some key messages that will presented in this seminar are evidence and knowledge translation. Evidence concerns facts (actual or asserted) intended to support a conclusion. Evidence based on scientific research is usually more trustworthy than that based on direct observation. One must judge the confidence in the quality of different types of evidence.

Whereas, knowledge translation is a dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically sound application of knowledge to yield beneficial outcomes for society.

Knowledge translation evidence is needed in the policy-making process. Evidence must be available to decision-makers and considered alongside these other factors. “It is naive to think that a decision maker will simply “apply” the evidence. Research evidence is not able to answer all questions,” he said.

Davi Mamblona Marques Romão, MPP. (WHO Consultant for Evidence-Informed Policy) also added, that if the policy-making process is done with knowledge translation and evidence, the decision-makers will get evidence-informed decision-making. Evidence-informed decision-making is a systemic and transparent use of the best available data, research, and other form of evidence depending on the nature of the decision-making process. Currently, WHO is promoting evidence-informed decision-making to improve the health system through a networked structure. (Reporter: Nirwana)