Table 1

Characteristics of the three linked data sets used in this study

CharacteristicsData sets
CountryCambodiaIndonesiaPakistan
Qualitative data collection methodIDIFGD and IDIIDI
Sample size55 IDIs5 FGDs and 31 IDIs50 IDIs
Study participants
  • Policy actors whose primary professional role is to shape health policy, including government health officials (national and subnational), technical policy advisors and local representatives of international funding agencies, and professional organisations.

  • Healthcare providers, both licensed and unlicensed to provide care, including doctors, pharmacists, nurses and medicine sellers, as well as non-government organisations managing healthcare provision.

  • Owners or employees of international or domestic pharmaceutical companies (manufacturers or suppliers or distributors).

Data collection process
  • IDIs were conducted by two members of the research team, with at least one Cambodian, Indonesian or Pakistani researcher involved in each interview respectively. Interviews were recorded with consent, and/or detailed interview notes were taken.

  • FGDs comprised between six and eight participants. The FGDs were recorded, and detailed notes were taken.

  • IDIs and FGDs were transcribed verbatim and professional translators were used to translate transcripts into English from Khmer, Bahasa Indonesia or Urdu.

  • The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines for qualitative studies were followed in each of the three studies.

  • FGD, focus group discussion; IDI, in-depth interview.