Evaluating Consumer and Provider Participation in Health Services Policy, Planning, and Management

Abstract

This article reports on an evaluation of the Health Advisory Network (HAN) of WesternAustralia, an innovative organization consisting of consumer and provider organizations, established by the state government mainly to provide advice to the Minister for Health and the Commissioner, on the planning, policy, and administration of the state's health services. The evaluation consisted of two parts, covering case studies of issues processed and an analysis of HAN members' perceptions. The general conclusion was that the network should be continued, and that with further development, it might serve as a model for the establishment of similar networks related to the provision of public services.