[1] HPSR is interdisciplinary and brings together expertise in a variety of biomedical and social sciences such as economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, public health and epidemiology.
The Commission on Health Research for Development[2] and the Ad Hoc Committee on Health Research[3] both highlighted the urgent need for focusing research methods, funding and practice towards addressing health inequities and embracing inter-disciplinary and intersectoral thinking.
In 2010, the first global symposium on health systems research was held in Montreux.
PLoS Medicine commissioned three articles on the state-of-the-art in HPSR authored by a diverse group of global health academics.
These articles critically examined the status of HPSR, current challenges and mapped the need to build capacity in HPSR and support local policy development and health systems strengthening, especially in LMICs.