The ability to make healthy choices is influenced by where one lives, works, shops, and plays. Locally enacted policies and standards can influence these surroundings but little is known about the prevalence of such policies and standards that support healthier behaviors. In this paper, we describe the development of a survey questionnaire designed to capture local level policy supports for hea...

INTRODUCTION The National Health Policy (NHP), released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, marks the culmination of a rather tortuous process. It has reportedly been with the drafting board for many years. One would have assumed that such a process would involve wide ranging discussions at all levels. Unfortunately, besides a small group in the Central Health Ministry, almost everyon...

E-government policy has characteristics different from most other public policies. As it influences how to manage institutions, how to decide policies, and how to implement them, it is an area that spans different policy fields. E-government is, secondly, often a policy aimed to overcome “government failure”. These “government failures” are considered as problems to be solved through e-governme...

The forced removal of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis children from their families to residential schools for over 120 years presents a complex and challenging legacy for all Canadians to deal with. This past spring, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released its final report and recommendations regarding residential schools and reconciliation, following six years of information gat...

BACKGROUND: As demand grows for health policies based on evidence, questions exist as to the capacity of developing countries to produce the health policy and systems research (HPSR) required to meet this challenge. METHODS: A postal/web survey of 176 HPSR producer institutions in developing countries assessed institutional structure, capacity, critical mass, knowledge production processes and ...

Recently, and mostly as a result of awareness created during the United Nations decade for women, it has become clear that women's contribution to development--and its recognition--are essential to the success of national development. The concept of development has evolved. Women should now be seen not only as a disadvantaged group but also as potential agents of change; one of the criteria f...