Table 2

Country-specific questions developed for the top three prioritised questions

CountryResearch questionAimsMethodsTeams
CroatiaWhat is the most appropriate payment system to increase access, availability, competency and outcome indicators of family medicine in Croatia?

  1. To assess the attitude and knowledge of patients, doctors (family medicine, public health, hospital doctors), directors of PC centres, insurance companies, local and state politicians, non-government associations about the role, involvement and placement of family medicine in the health system.

  2. Develop proposed financing plan for general practitioners

Analysis of existing data and comparative analysis of different PHC payment systems in the world
Survey & focus groups of target stakeholders—patients, doctors, directors of PC centres, insurance companies, local & state politicians, non-government associations about attitude & knowledge of the role, involvement & placement of family medicine in the health system
Development of proposal for general practice financing based on these results		 Dr Tanja Pekez-Pavlisko (lead)
Dr Dinka Jurisic
Professor Maja Racic
Assistant Professor Nemanja Rancic
KenyaWhat mechanisms have been found to be effective in persuading governments to invest in PHC that might be implemented in Kenya?

  1. To conduct grey literature review to determine which countries have invested highly and those that have not

  2. To conduct key informant interviews with conveniently selected representatives from countries that have invested highly in PHC and those that have not.

  3. To develop a tool to use in interviewing key Kenyan stakeholders in health services management

Mixed method using both qualitative and quantitative data
Review grey literature in PHC investments globally and categorise into those who have invested highly and those who have not
Compare health cost per capita and health indicators for two categories
Conduct key informant interviews with conveniently selected representatives from countries from both categories
Use these data to develop a tool for use in interviewing key stakeholders in health services management in Kenya		 Dr Patrick Chege (lead)
Dr Joseph Thigiti
Dr Ann Mwangi
Dr Joy Mugambi
Dr Bruce Dahlman
Dr Izaaq Odongo
Dr Jeremiah Laktabai
Edith Kabure
TurkeyWhat is the ideal proportion of the total healthcare budget that guarantees the development of quality PHC in Turkey?

  1. Describe how expenditure items, trend of expenses attributed to PHC and financial policies of Turkish healthcare budget differ from other upper middle-income countries having same GDP

  2. Determine the quality of care provided in PHC in Turkey, the disabling financial barriers and rational priorities that may enable high-quality PC service provision

Review of existing policy frameworks, strategic documents, meeting/workshop reports, medical news, statistical reports and research papers providing information about healthcare system budget policies for Turkey & comparison countries
Survey of physicians & patients using established questions to assess PHC quality & functions
Longitudinal, direct observation of PHC practices to identify financial barriers to care
Key informant interviews (policy-makers, economists, academics & health directors) about financial policies for PHC
Delphi panel for reaching consensus about priority areas for achieving high-quality PHC services
Summative analysis to identify proportion of total healthcare budget that guarantees development of quality PHC in Turkey and achieving key WHO/UN health targets		 Professor Akman (lead)
Professor Sibel Sakarya
Professor Serap Çifçili
Professor Pemra Cöbek Ünalan
Professor Bulent Kılıç
Dr Hülya Akan
Emrah Kırımlı
Professor Peter Groenewegen
Professor Kaan Sözmen
Tino Marti

  • GDP, gross domestic product; PC, primary care; PHC, primary healthcare.