Process of Policy Development

Ambika Thapa Pachya

Lecturer, Module Coordinator
Health Policy and Financing Module
School of Public Health
Patan Academy of Health Sciences

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 Objectives of the session
• To discuss the policy development process or
policy process
• To discuss about the phases in policy
development process
• To discuss about the stage model of policy
development process

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 Policy development process or policy
process
• The overarching process of developing/
making/ formulating and implementing policy

• The process of policy change

– indicating that the changes which make up and
are part of the policy process occur during both
development and implementation.

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 Policy development process or policy
process
• Involve complex sets of decisions and actions
entailed in developing policy and putting
policy into effect

• These decisions follow a complex pathways in

practice

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Phases in policy development process
Three major phases:
• Policy Formulation Phase
• Policy Implementation Phase
• Policy Modification Phase

• Occur in iterative pattern

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Phases in policy development process

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Stages Model of policy development
process

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 Stages Model of policy development
process
1. Agenda setting- which entails the
identification of problems or recognition of
issues, and setting priorities for what needs to
be addressed. What does, and does not , get
on to the policy –making agenda determines
what policies are formulated and is influenced
by policy actors’ interests and concerns.

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Stages Model of policy development
process

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Stages Model of policy development
process

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 Stages Model of policy development
process
2. Policy formulation – which entails actors with
formal policy authority making decisions
about the details of policy content, using
various decision- making strategies, and
involving other policy actors

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Stages Model of policy development
process

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 Stages Model of policy development
process
3. Adoption (or decision making)- which entails
decisions are made at the governmental level,
resulting in a decision that favors one or more
approaches to addressing a given problem.

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Stages Model of policy development
process

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 Stages Model of policy development
process
4. Policy implementation- which entails
implementation of the policy content through
various strategies and by various structures
and people, including the adaptation or non-
implementation of the policy by the policy
actors.

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 Stages Model of policy development
process
• Factors noted during policy implementation stage:
– The type and complexity of the problem addressed,
– The magnitude of the expected change and the groups targeted by the
policy,
– The human and financial resources devoted to implementation, and
– The administrative structures and regulations that will be put in place
to support implementation of the policy
• High demands are placed on the technical administrative apparatus
at this stage, and on groups associated with policy sector.
• The term policy network is often used to refer to the actors within
the government, as well as the stakeholders associated with a
policy sector, who are in a sense experts in the area.
• This policy network will have a major influence on how the policy is
implemented.

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Stages Model of policy development
process

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 Stages Model of policy development
process

5.Policy evaluation–which entails assessing the

success of the policy, either during its
development and implementation (sometimes
with a view to influencing this process) ,or after
these periods, as a basis for further policy action.
• Different types of policy evaluation:
– Impact,
– Process, and
– Cost-benefit analysis
(Review from previous sessions)
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Stages Model of policy development
process

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 Example
• Alcohol and drug use and misuse is an immense and
highly complex challenge for policymakers in Scotland
which can be addressed coherently
• A unifying framework of theory and practice on the use
of alcohol, tobacco and other substances will be
necessary if we are to achieve a significant reduction in
damage by 2025.
• Action, however, in many areas must be taken in the
near future as well as the medium and long term.
• The challenge to reduce alcohol and drug damage by
half is manageable if there is willingness to use current
understanding of what is effective
Approaches to Alcohol and Drugs in Scotland: A question of Architecture,
2008, ATP_SoPH_PAHS_MPH_B3 21
 Example

Approaches to Alcohol and Drugs in Scotland: A question of

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Architecture, 2008,
 Example

Approaches to Alcohol and Drugs in Scotland: A question of

Architecture, 2008,
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Example

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 Example

undermine the
power and
authority of (an
established
system or
institution).

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Example

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Example

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Example

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Example

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Example

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 Example

Increase in complexity suggests more maturity in the policy model.

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Policy Development Process: Summary

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Q and A

Thank you

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