Transparency interventions to improve health system outcomes in low and middle-income countries: a narrative systematic review

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify the types of transparency interventions in the health systems of the low-income and middle-income countries and the outcomes of such interventions in those systems.MethodWe searched major medical databases including PubMed, Embase and Scopus, for any kind of in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ open 2024-06, Vol.14 (6), p.e081152-e081152
Main Authors: Gholami, Masoomeh, Takian, Amirhossein, Kabir, Mohammad Javad, Olyaeemanesh, Alireza, Mohammadi, Mehrdad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Access to information
Accountability
Civil society
Corruption
Delivery of Health Care - standards
Developing Countries
Health Policy
Humans
Intervention
Low income groups
Pharmaceuticals
public health
Quality Improvement
Right to know
Systematic review
Transparency
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Summary:ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify the types of transparency interventions in the health systems of the low-income and middle-income countries and the outcomes of such interventions in those systems.MethodWe searched major medical databases including PubMed, Embase and Scopus, for any kind of interventional study on transparency in health systems. We also looked for additional sources of information in organisational websites, grey literature and reference checking. Using the PRISMA algorithm for identifying related studies, we included 24 articles.ResultsOur initial search, from 1980 to August 2021, retrieved 407 articles, 24 of which were narratively analysed. Response to a problem (mostly corruption) was the main reason for the initiation of a transparency intervention. Transparency interventions differed in terms of types, performance methods, collaboration partners and outcomes. They help improve the health system mostly in the short term and in some cases, long term.ConclusionAlthough our findings revealed that transparency initiatives could reduce some problems such as counterfeit drugs and corruption, and improve health indicators in a short term, still their sustainability remains a concern. Health systems need robust interventions with clearly defined and measured outcomes, especially sustainable outcomes to tackle corruption fundamentally.
ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081152