09 Jul Inequalities in Canads Health Care System

1. The Policy Brief is a short, succinct and neutral summary of what is known about a particular policy issue or problem. Designed to facilitate policymaking or policy change, the purpose of a policy brief is to use evidence to inform the reader about a particular policy issue, to suggest different policy options and to make actionable recommendations.  An effective policy brief is clear about its purpose, maintains a laser focus on this purpose and distils or synthesizes a large amount of complex detail so the reader can easily understand the heart of the issue, its background, the players (stakeholders), the various policy options and any recommendations. It may have tables and graphs and has a list of references, so the reader knows something about the sources on which it is based, and where to go for more information. Most of the time, the policy brief has a one page executive summary that allows the reader to quickly grasp the essence of the report. In short, the purpose of the policy brief is to convince the target audience of the urgency of the current problem and the need to adopt the preferred alternative or course of action outlined. It therefore serves as an impetus for action.

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3. You will be talking about the inequalities that exist within Canada’s healthcare system. Talk about the inequalities and how they can be changed.
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7. Executive Summary:
   • One or two detailed paragraphs that:
     • Establishes the policy problem
     • Introduces the policy options in a general way
     • Concludes with the proposed policy action(s)

3. Details of Policy Problem:
   • A historical background of policy
   • The current policy framework
   • A rational of the need for a policy change
4. Details of Policy Alternatives:
   • At least two different policy options from outside your jurisdiction
     • For example, if you are in SK, this could be another province like AB or BC. However, it could also be from another country altogether
   • Provide an analysis for each policy option:
     • Identify the pros and cons of the policy
       • Technically, economically, and politically
       • Make reference to the application of the policy in the source jurisdiction
         • Use statistical evidence wherever possible
       • At this point, you should strive to be neutral
         • Make the best case for each option and honestly identify the weakness of each

5. Make a Policy Recommendation:
   • Make an argument for a particular policy option
     • This can be a policy introduced above
     • It can be a modified version of a policy introduced above
     • It can be a hybrid of the policies introduced above
   • Use the tools of comparative public policy analysis to support your policy recommendation
   • Identify the practical obstacles in the decision making and implementation stages of the policy cycle
     • If possible, suggest how these obstacles might be overcome

6. Appendices:
   • If you have tables, graphs, or other supporting documentation, include this in the appendix
7. Consulted and Recommended Sources:
   • List the sources used in your research
   • Conclude with two or three suggested sources to read for more information