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Professor Steve Thomas
Edward Kennedy Professor of Health Polic, Public Health & Primary Care
Director Centre for Health Policy & Mgmt, School Office - Medicine

Biography

Steve is the Edward Kennedy Chair of Health Policy and Management in the Centre for Health Policy and Management in the School of Medicine. He is also a Health Research Board Research Leader with his RESTORE programme, focussed on heath system resilience and reform. He has a wealth of international experience in policy oriented research and post-graduate teaching and education in government and academia over the last 28 years. His research interests include health systems evaluation, health financing, health economics and health policy analysis, and workforce planning and motivation. His track record in policy influence is outstanding. He led the Trinity team in support of the Oireachtas Committee for the Future of Healthcare and its production of Slaintecare. He delivers Health Economics, Health Policy and Health Systems teaching on various post-graduate programmes. He served for ten years as a co-Director of the national SPHERE PhD programme which has successfully trained over 65 PhD candidates. He collaborates widely with national and international stakeholders in research, policy and education.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Kathleen Harkin, Jan Sorensen, Steve Thomas., Lifecycle evaluation of medical devices: supporting or jeopardizing patient outcomes? A comparative analysis of evaluation models, International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 40, (1), 2024, pe2, 1-12 Journal Article, 2024 DOI URL

Siersbaek Rikke, Ford John, Ní­ Cheallaigh Cliona, Thomas Steve, Burke Sara, How do health system factors (funding and performance) impact on access to healthcare for populations experiencing homelessness: a realist evaluation, International Journal for Equity in Health, 22, (1), 2023, p218- Journal Article, 2023 URL DOI

Witter S, Thomas S, Topp SM, Barasa E, Chopra M, Cobos D, Blanchet K, Teddy G, Atun R, Ager A., Health system resilience: a critical review and reconceptualisation., The Lancet. Global health, 11, (9), 2023, pe1454-e1458 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

Thomas, S, O'Donoghue, C, McCarthy, N, Almirall-Sanchez, A, Burke, S, Keegan, C, Dempsey, G, Barry, S, Fleming, P, The PRESTO report. Sustainability and Resilience in the Irish Health System, Trinity College Dublin/London School of Economics/Partnership for Health System Sustainability & re, March 2023, 2023 Report, 2023 URL TARA - Full Text

Sagan A, Thomas S, Webb E, McKee M., Assessing resilience of a health system is difficult but necessary to prepare for the next crisis., BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 382, 2023, pe073721 Journal Article, 2023 DOI

Fleming Padraic, Thomas Steve, Williams Des, Kennedy Jack, Burke Sara, Implications for health system reform, workforce recovery and rebuilding in the context of the Great Recession and COVID-19: a case study of workforce trends in Ireland 2008â€"2021, Human Resources for Health, 20, (1), 2022, p48- Journal Article, 2022 DOI URL

Unruh, L.; Allin, S.; Marchildon, G.; Burke, S.; Barry, S.; Siersbaek, R.; Thomas, S.; Rajan, S.; Koval, A.; Alexander, M. et al., A comparison of 2020 health policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, Health Policy, 126, (5), 2022, p427 - 437 Journal Article, 2022 URL

David Mockler, Padraic Fleming, Catherine O'Donoghue, Arianna Almirall-Sanchez, David Mockler, Conor Keegan, Jon Cylus, Anna Sagan, Steve Thomas, Metrics and indicators used to assess health system resilience in response to shocks to health systems in high income countries"A systematic review, Health Policy, 2022 Journal Article, 2022 DOI

Padraic Fleming, Louise Caffrey, Sara Van Belle, Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Jacki Conway, Rikke Siersbaek, David Mockler, Stephen Thomas, How International Health System Austerity Responses to the 2008 Financial Crisis Impacted Health System and Workforce Resilience " A Realist Review, International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12, 2022 Journal Article, 2022 URL

Sarah Barry, Malgorzata Stach, Steve Thomas, Sara Burke, Understanding service reorganisation in the Irish health & social care system from 1998 to 2020: lessons for reform and transformation, HRB Open Research, 4, 2021, p106 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Bridget M. Johnston, Sara Burke, Paul M. Kavanagh, Caoimhe O'Sullivan, Steve Thomas, Sarah Parker, Moving beyond formulae: a review of international population-based resource allocation policy and implications for Ireland in an era of healthcare reform, HRB Open Research, 4, 2021, p121 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Lee, Mandy; Martin-Carroll, Margaret; Von Mollendorff, Wendy; Condon, Claire; Kavanagh, Matthew; Thomas, Steve, Common patterns in the public reporting of waiting time and waiting list information: findings from a sample of OECD jurisdictions, Health Policy, 125, (8), 2021, p1002 - 1012 Journal Article, 2021 TARA - Full Text DOI

Thomas,S, Johnston, J, Barry, S, Siersbaek, R, Burke, S., Sláintecare implementation status in 2020: Limited progress with entitlement expansion, Health Policy, 2021 Journal Article, 2021 URL

Barry, S, Ní Fhallúin, M, Thomas, S, Harnett, PJ, Burke, S. , Implementing Integrated Care in Practice - Learning from MDTs Driving the Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons in Ireland, International Journal of Integrated Care , 21(1):15, ((1) ), 2021, p1 - 11 Journal Article, 2021 URL

Rikke Siersbaek, John Ford, Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, Sara Burke, Steve Thomas, Making healthcare accessible for single adults with complex needs experiencing long-term homelessness: A realist evaluation protocol, HRB Open Research, 3, 2021, p73 Journal Article, 2021

Siersbaek, R; Ford, J; Ní Cheallaigh, C;Burke, S;Thomas, S., Making healthcare accessible for single adults with complex needs experiencing long-term homelessness: A realist evaluation protocol [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]., HRB Open Research , 2021, p1-17 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Burke, Sara, Thomas, Steve, Stach, Malgorzata, Kavanagh, Paul, Magahy, Laura, Johnston, Bridget, Barry, Sarah, Health system foundations for Sláintecare implementation in 2020 and beyond " co-producing a Sláintecare Living Implementation Framework with Evaluation: Learning from the Irish health system"s response to COVID-19. A mixed-methods study protocol, HRB Open Research, 3, 2021, p70 Journal Article, 2021 DOI

Anna Sagan, Steve Thomas, Martin McKee, Marina Karanikolos, Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Isabel de la Mata and Josep Figueras, COVID-19 and Health Systems Resilience: Lessons going forwards, Eurohealth, 26, (2), 2020, p20-24 Journal Article, 2020 URL

Steve Thomas, Anna Sagan, James Larkin, Jonathan Cylus, Josep Figueras, Marina Karanikolos, Strengthening health systems resilience. Key concepts and strategies, Policy Brief, Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe, June, 2020, 1-33 Report, 2020 URL

Bridget M Johnston and Rachel McCauley and Mary Rabbitte and Regina McQuillan and Caitriona Honohan and David Mockler and Steve Thomas and Peter May, Evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of out-of-hours palliative care, Palliative Medicine, 2020, p026921632096955 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Bridget Johnston, Steve Thoms, Sara Burke, Can people afford to pay for health care? New evidence on financial protection in Ireland, Finacial Protection, Copenhagen, , WHO Regional Office for Europe, July, 2020, p1 - 118 Report, 2020 URL

Johnston, B, Thomas, S, Burke, S., Can people afford to pay for health care? New evidence on financial protection in Ireland, 1st Edition, WHO Europe, WHO Europe, 2020, p1 - 118 Report, 2020 URL

Embracing and Disentangling from Private Finance: The Irish System in, editor(s)Colleen Flood and Bryan Thomas , Is two-tier health care the future?, Ottawa, University of Ottawa Press, 2020, pp291 - 314, [Stephen Thomas, Sarah Barry, Bridget Johnston, Rikke Siersbaek and Sara Burke ] Book Chapter, 2020 URL

Bridget M. Johnston, Rachel McCauley, Regina McQuillan, Mary Rabbitte, Caitriona Honohan, David Mockler, Steve Thomas, Peter May, Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of out-of-hours palliative care: a systematic review [version 1; peer review: 3 approved]. , HRB Open Research, 3, (9), 2020, p1-9 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Pilch, Monika, Lunt, Victoria, May, Peter, Mockler, David, Thomas, Stephen, Doyle, Frank, Facilitators and barriers to stakeholder engagement in advance care planning for older adults in community settings: a hybrid systematic review protocol, HRB Open Research, 3, 2020, p38 Journal Article, 2020 DOI

Steve Thomas, Conor Foley, Bridget Kane, Bridget M. Johnston , Brenda Lynch, Susan Smith, Orla Healy , Elsa Droog, John Browne, Variation in resource allocation in urgent and emergency Care Systems in Ireland., BMC Health Serv Res, 19, (657), 2019, p1-11 Journal Article, 2019 URL

Burke, S, Brugha, R, Thomas, S, The National Treatment Purchase Fund - A success for some patients yet a public policy failure? , Administration. Journal of the Institute of Public Administration of Ireland , 67, (2), 2019, p47 - 69 Journal Article, 2019 URL URL TARA - Full Text

Harnett, P.J., Ní Fhalluín, M., Burke, S., Boyce, M. O'Shea, T., Williams, P., Thomas, S., The challenges of delivering universal and integrated care - evidence to inform policy implementation in Ireland and internationally, 19th International Conference for Integrated Care, San Sebastian, Spain, 1-3 April 2019, 2019 Conference Paper, 2019 DOI

Johnston BM, Burke S, Barry S, Normand C, Ní Fhallúin M, Thomas S., Private health expenditure in Ireland: Assessing the affordability of private financing of health care. , Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 2019 Journal Article, 2019 DOI

Burke, S, Brugha, R, Thomas S., It's the economy, stupid! When economics and politics override health policy goals - the case of tax reliefs to build private hospitals in Ireland in the early 2000s, HRB Open Research, 1, (1), 2018 Journal Article, 2018 DOI Handle

Steve Thomas, Sarah Barry, Bridget Johnston, Sara Burke, Ireland's health care system and the crisis: a case study in the struggle for a capable welfare state, Anais do Instituto de Medicina Tropical , 17 (Supplement), (1), 2018, p27 - 36 Journal Article, 2018 URL

Steve Thomas, Sarah Barry, Bridget Johnston, Sara Burke, The Irish health system and the crisis: a case study in the struggle for the capacity of the Social State, Annals of the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 17, (1), 2018, p27 - 36 Journal Article, 2018 TARA - Full Text URL

Conor Keegan, Conor Teljeur, Brian Turner, Steve Thomas, Switching benefits and costs in the Irish health insurance market: an analysis of consumer surveys, International Journal of Health Economics and Management, 2018 Journal Article, 2018 DOI TARA - Full Text

Sara A. Burke, Ruairi Brugha, Stephen Thomas, It"s the economy, stupid! When economics and politics override health policy goals " the case of tax reliefs to build private hospitals in Ireland in the early 2000s, HRB Open Research, 1, 2018, p1 Journal Article, 2018

Sara Burke,Sarah Barry,Rikke Siersbaek,Bridget Johnston,Maebh Ní Fhallúin,Steve Thomas, Sláintecare - A ten-year plan to achieve universal healthcare in Ireland, Health Policy, 2018, p1-5 Journal Article, 2018 DOI

Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Ella Tyrrell, Steve Thomas, 'Is someone going to saw off the plank behind me?' - Healthcare managers priorities, challenges and expectations for service delivery and transformation during economic crisis. , Health Systems, Policy and Research, 4, (1), 2017, p1-7 Journal Article, 2017 DOI

Conor Keegan, Conor Teljeur, Brian Turner, Steve Thomas, Addressing Market Segmentation and Incentives for Risk Selection: How Well Does Risk Equalisation in the Irish Private Health Insurance Market Work?, The Economic and Social Review, Vol 48, , (No 1, Spring), 2017, p61 - 84 Journal Article, 2017 URL

Des Williams, Steve Thomas, The impact of austerity on the health workforce and the achievement of human resources for health policies in Ireland (2008-2014), BioMed Central Human Resources for Health, 15, (62), 2017, p1-8 Journal Article, 2017 DOI

Barry SE, Burke S, Boyce M, Eustace-Cook J, Normand C, Thomas S., Implementing Universal Healthcare implies Integrated Care Design - findings from a systematic review of the organisational challenges of implementing UHC policy. , International Journal of Integrated Care. , 17, (5), 2017, ppA477- Conference Paper, 2017 DOI

Brugha R, McAleese S, Dicker P, Tyrrell E, Thomas S, Normand C, Humphries N., Passing through - reasons why migrant doctors in Ireland plan to stay, return home or migrate onwards to new destination countries., Human Resources for Health, 14, (Suppl 1), 2016, p45 - 54 Journal Article, 2016 DOI

Anneliese Arno, Steve Thomas, The efficacy of nudge theory strategies in influencing adult dietary behaviour: a systematic review and meta-analysis, BMC Public Health, 16, 2016, p676 - 687 Journal Article, 2016 URL

Conor Keegan, Conor Teljeur, Brian Turner, Steve Thomas, Switching insurers in the Irish voluntary health insurance market: determinants, incentives and risk equalization, The European Journal of Health Economics, 17, (7), 2016, p823-831 Journal Article, 2016 DOI

Steve Thomas, Sarah Thomson, Tamás Evetovits., Analysis of the Health System in Slovenia: Making sense of complementary health insurance., Slovenia Health System Review Reports (2016), WHO Regional Office for Europe, Denmark, WHO, European Observatory and Ministry of Health Slovenia , February , 2016, 1-15 Report, 2016 URL

Steve Thomas, Tamás Evetovits, Sarah Thomson, Analysis of the Health System in Slovenia: Evaluating Health Financing, Slovenia Health System Review Reports (2016), WHO Regional Office for Europe, Denmark, WHO, European Observatory and Ministry of Health Slovenia , February , 2016, 1-31 Report, 2016 URL

Burke, S., Thomas, S., Barry, S., Keegan, C., The authors respond, Health Policy, 120, (3), 2016, p343-344 Journal Article, 2016

Burke S, Normand C, Barry S and Thomas S, From universal health insurance to universal healthcare? The shifting health policy landscape in Ireland since the economic crisis., Health Policy, 120, (3), 2016, p235 - 240 Journal Article, 2016 URL URL

Tyrrell E, Keegan C, Humphries N, McAleese S, Thomas S, Normand C, Brugha R., Predictors of career progression and obstacles and opportunities for non-EU hospital doctors to undertake postgraduate training in Ireland., Human Resources for Health, 14, (Suppl 1), 2016, p33 - 43 Journal Article, 2016 DOI

Sara Burke, Charles Normand, Sarah Barry, Stephen Thomas, From universal health insurance to universal healthcare? The shifting health policy landscape in Ireland since the economic crisis, Health Policy, 12, 2015, p1-12 Journal Article, 2015 DOI

Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Maria Boyce, Jessica Eustace-Cook, Charles Normand, Steve Thomas , 'Mapping the organisational challenges of implementing universal health care/coverage policies for health systems in countries with a GDP per capita greater than $22,000 ', PROSPERO 2015, 2015, - Protocol or guideline, 2015 URL

The impact of the financial crisis on the health system and health in Ireland in, editor(s)Maresso A, Mladovsky P, Thomson S, Sagan A, Karanikolos M, Richardson E, Cylus J, Evetovits T, Jowett M, Figueras J and Kluge H , Economic crisis, health systems and health in Europe: country experience, Copenhagen, Denmark, : WHO/ European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2015, [Anne Nolan, Sarah Barry, Sara Burke, Steve Thomas] Book Chapter, 2015 URL TARA - Full Text

Niamh Humphries, Sara McAleese, Ella Tyrrell, Steve Thomas, Charles Normand and Ruairi Brugha, Applying a typology of health worker migration to non-EU migrant doctors in Ireland, Human Resources for Health, 13, (52), 2015 Journal Article, 2015 DOI

"I am kind of in stalemate". The experience of non-EU migrant doctors in Ireland in, editor(s)James Buchan, Matthias Wismar, Irene A Glinos, Jeni Bremner , Health Professional Mobility in a Changing Europe, Copenhagen, World Health Organization, 2014, pp233 - 250, [Niamh Humphries, Posy Bidwell, Ella Tyrrell, Ruairi Brugha, Steve Thomas and Charles Normand] Book Chapter, 2014

Burke S, Thomas S, Barry S, Keegan C, Indicators of health system coverage and activity in Ireland during the economic crisis 2008-2014 - From 'more with less' to 'less with less'., Health policy (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 117, (3), 2014, p275-8 Journal Article, 2014 TARA - Full Text DOI

Steve Thomas, Sara Burke, Sarah Barry, The Irish health-care system and austerity: sharing the pain, The Lancet, 383, (9928), 2014, p1545 - 1546 Journal Article, 2014 DOI

The impact of the financial crisis on the health system and health in Ireland in, editor(s)Maresso A, Mladovsky P, Thomson S, Sagan A, Karanikolos M, Richardson E, Cylus J, Evetovits T, Jowett M, Figueras J and Kluge H, eds , Economic crisis, health systems and health in Europe: country experience,, Copenhagen, World Health Organization - European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, 2014, pp1 - 42, [Nolan, Anne, Barry Sarah, Burke, Sara, Thomas, Steve] Book Chapter, 2014

Teljeur C, Tyrrell E, Kelly A, O'Dowd T, Thomas S., Getting a handle on the general practice workforce in Ireland, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 183, (2), 2014, p207 - 213 Journal Article, 2014 DOI

Duane Blaauw, Prudence Ditlopo, Fresier Maseko, Maureen Chirwa, Aziza Mwisongo, Posy Bidwell, Steve Thomas and Charles Normand , Comparing the job satisfaction and intention to leave of different categories of health workers in Tanzania, Malawi, and South Africa., Glob Health Action , 6, 2013, p127 - 137 Journal Article, 2013 TARA - Full Text DOI

Conor Keegan, Steve Thomas, Charles Normand, Conceição Portela, Measuring recession severity and its impact on healthcare expenditure, International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics, 13, (2), 2013, p139 - 155 Journal Article, 2013 URL DOI

The economic crisis and the irish Health system:Assessing resilience in, editor(s)Hou, Xiaohui, Edit V. Velényi, Abdo S. Yazbeck, Roberto F.Iunes, and Owen Smith , Learning from Economic Downturns: How to Better Assess, Track, and Mitigate the Impact on the Health Sector. Directions in Development., Washington DC, World Bank, 2013, [Sara Burke, Sarah Barry, and Stephen Thomas] Book Chapter, 2013

Posy Bidwell, Niamh Humphries, Patrick Dicker, Steve Thomas, Charles Normand, Ruairi Brugha, The national and international implications of a decade of doctor migration in the irish context, Health Policy, 110, (1), 2013, p29 - 38 Journal Article, 2013

Which is the right model of Universal Health Insurance for Ireland? in, editor(s)Tom O'Connor , Integrated Care for Ireland in an International Context. Challenges for Policy, Institutions and Specific Service User Needs, Cork, Oak Tree Press, 2013, [Steve Thomas, Catherine Darker] Book Chapter, 2013

Steve Thomas, Conor Keegan , Sarah Barry , Richard Layte, Matt Jowett and Charles Normand, A framework for assessing health system resilience in an economic crisis: Ireland as a test case, BMC Health Services Research, 13, (450), 2013, p1-8 Journal Article, 2013 TARA - Full Text DOI

Conceicao Portela, Steve Thomas, Impact of the economic crisis on healthcare resources - An european approach, International Journal of Healthcare Management, 6, (2), 2013, p104 - 113 Journal Article, 2013

Prudence Ditlopo, Duane Blaauw, Laetiticia Rispel, Steve Thomas, Posy Bidwell, Policy implementation and financial incentives for nurses in South Africa: a case study on the occupation specific dispensation, Global Health Action, 6, (19289), 2013, p138 - 146 Journal Article, 2013 TARA - Full Text URL

Niamh Humphries, Ella Tyrrell, Sara McAleese, Posy Bidwell, Steve Thomas, Charles Normand, Ruairi Brugha, A cycle of brain gain, waste and drain - a qualitative study of non-Eu migrant doctors in Ireland, Human Resources for Health, 11, ((63)), 2013, p1-10 Journal Article, 2013 DOI TARA - Full Text

Maureen L Chirwa, Isabel Kazanga, Giulia Faedo and Stephen Thomas, Promoting universal financial protection: contracting faith-based health facilities to expand access - lessons learned from Malawi., Health Research Policy and Systems, 11, (27), 2013 Journal Article, 2013 TARA - Full Text

Steve Thomas. Sara Burke, Coping with Austerity in the Irish Health System, Eurohealth, 18, (1), 2012, p7 - 9 Journal Article, 2012

Health Care Systems in, editor(s)Helmut Anheier and Mark Juergensmeyer , Encyclopedia of Global Studies, Thousand Oaks, CA, SAGE, 2012, pp783 - 786, [Steve Thomas] Book Chapter, 2012

Steve Thomas, Conor Keegan, Sarah Barry, Richard Layte, The Irish health system and the economic crisis, The Lancet, 380, (9847), 2012, p1056 - 1057 Journal Article, 2012

Understanding How Incentives Influence Motivation and Retention of Health Workers in, editor(s)Stefane Kabene , Human Resources in Healthcare, Health Informatics and Healthcare Systems, United States of America, IGI Global , 2011, pp63 - 78, [Posy Bidwell, Stephen Thomas, Silvia Stringhini] Book Chapter, 2011 TARA - Full Text

Prudence Ditlopo, Duane Blaauw, Posy Bidwell, Steve Thomas, Analyzing the implementation of the rural allowance in hospitals in North West Province, South Africa, Journal of Public Health Policy, 32, (1), 2011, p80 - 93 Journal Article, 2011

The Health Care System in Ireland in, editor(s)Himanshu Sekhar Rout , Health Care System: A Global Survey, New Delhi, New Centruy Publications, 2011, pp236 - 254, [Padhraig Ryan and Steve Thomas] Book Chapter, 2011

Carr S C, Leggatt-Cook C, Clarke M, MacLachlan M, Papola T S, Pais J, Thomas S, McAuliffe E, Normand C, What is the evidence of the impact of increasing salaries on improving the performance of public servants, including teachers, doctors/nurses, and mid-level occupations, in low- and middle- income countries: Is it time to give pay a chance?, London, EPPI_Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London, November, 2011, 1-107 Report, 2011 URL

Teljeur C, Thomas S, O'Kelly FD, O'Dowd T, General practitioner workforce planning: assessment of four policy directions, BMC Health Services Research, 10, (148), 2010 Journal Article, 2010 URL TARA - Full Text DOI

Teljeur, C., O'Dowd, D., Thomas, S., Kelly, A., The distribution of GPs in Ireland in relation to deprivation, Health and Place, 16, 2010, p1077 - 1083 Journal Article, 2010 TARA - Full Text

Kathleen Bennett, Aoife Brick Richard Layte, Edgar Morgenroth, Charles Normand, Jacqueline O'Reilly, Steve Thomas, Miriam Wiley, Maev-Ann Wren, Projecting the Impact of Demographic Change on the Demand for and Delivery of Health Care in Ireland, Dublin, ESRI, 2009 Book, 2009

Ryan, P, Thomas, S, Normand, C, Translating Dutch: challenges and opportunities in reforming health financing in Ireland., Irish Journal of Medical Science, 178, (3), 2009, p245-248 Journal Article, 2009 DOI

Silvia Stringhini, Steve Thomas, Posy Bidwell, Tina Mtui, Aziza Mwisongo, Understanding informal payments in healthcare: motivation of health workers in Tanzania, Human Resources for Health, 7, (53), 2009 Journal Article, 2009 URL TARA - Full Text

Health Care Financing and the Health System in, editor(s)Guy Carrin, Kent Buse, Harald Kristian Heggenhougen, Stella R. Quah, , Health Systems Policy, Finance, and Organization, Oxford, Elsevier, 2009, [Charles Normand and Stephen Thomas] Book Chapter, 2009

Mischa Willis, Posy Bidwell, Stephen Thomas, Laura Wyness, Duane Blaauw, Prudence Ditlopo, Improving Motivation and Retention of Health Professionals in Developing Countries: A Systematic Review , BMC Health Services Research, 8: 247, 2008 Journal Article, 2008 URL

Health Financing and the Health System in, editor(s)Kris Heggenhougen and Stella Quah , International Encyclopaedia of Public Health, Vol 3, New York, Elsevier, 2008, pp160 - 174, [Charles Normand and Stephen Thomas] Book Chapter, 2008 DOI

Steve Thomas, Squaring the Circle?, BMJ, 336, 2008 Journal Article, 2008 URL

Stephen Thomas, The Oslo Ministerial Declaration: What a pity!, The Lancet, 369, (9580), 2007, p2159 - 2159 Journal Article, 2007

Stephen Thomas, Charles Normand and Samantha Smith, Addressing Inequities in the Irish Health Care System through Social Health Insurance, Journal of Insurance and Financing in Health Economics, iHEA 2007 6th World Congress: Explorations in Health Economics Paper, Barcelona, 2007 Conference Paper, 2007 URL

Stephen Thomas, Charles Normand, Ireland awaits, BMJ: British Medical Journal, 334, 2007 Journal Article, 2007 URL

Okore Okorafor, Stephen Thomas , Protecting Resources for Primary Health Care under Fiscal Federalism: Options for Resource Allocation, Health Policy and Planning, 22, (6), 2007, p415 - 426 Journal Article, 2007

Joanne Kiniry, Steve Thomas and Laura Wyness, Implementing Mental Health and Psychosocial Guidelines, BMJ, 335, 2007 Journal Article, 2007 URL

Stephen Thomas, Gavin Mooney and Sandi Mbatsha, The MESH Approach: Strengthening Public Health Systems for the MDGs, Health Policy, 82, (2-3), 2007, p180 - 185 Journal Article, 2007

Thomas, S., Okorafor, O., Mbatsha, S., Health reform, equity and primary healthcare: Taking off the make-up, Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 5, (1), 2006, p1-4 Journal Article, 2006

Stephen Thomas, Okore Okorafor, Sandi Mbatsha, Health Reform, Equity and Primary Health Care, Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 5, (1), 2006, p1 - 4 Journal Article, 2006

Steve Thomas and Michael Thiede, Globalisation, Health Policy and the Exercise of Power - A Second Opinion on Gilbert and Gilbert (2004), Health Policy, 72, (3), 2005, p261 - 264 Journal Article, 2005

Introduction: Health Sector Reform in Africa and its impact on sexual and reproductive health services. in, Health Reform and Reproductive Health in Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa, The Initiative for Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Health reform, 2005, [Stephen Thomas] Book Chapter, 2005 URL

Stephen Thomas, Resource Allocation to Primary Health Care in South Africa: Considering the Poor under a Fiscal federal System, Global Forum for Health Research: Forum 9, Mumbai, India, 12-16th September, 2005 Conference Paper, 2005

Stephen Thomas, Okore Okorafor and Sandi Mbatsha, Barriers to the Equitable Funding of Primary Health Care in South Africa, Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 4, (3), 2005, p183 - 190 Journal Article, 2005

Health Care Financing in, editor(s)Ijumba P , The South African Health Review, 2003, Durban, Health Systems Trust, 2004, [Mark Blecher and Stephen Thomas] Book Chapter, 2004

Stephen Thomas and Lucy Gilson, Actor Management in the Development of Health Financing Reform: Health Insurance in South Africa, 1994-1999, Health Policy and Planning, 19, (5), 2004, p279 - 291 Journal Article, 2004

Di McIntyre, Stephen Thomas and Susan Cleary, Globalisation and Health Policy in South Africa, Perspectives on Global Development and Technology, 3, (1-2), 2004, p131 - 152 Journal Article, 2004

Globalisation and Health Policy in South Africa in, editor(s)Harris R L and Seid M J , Globalisation and Health, Brill Academic Publishers, 2004, pp131 - 152, [Di McIntyre, Stephen Thomas and Susan Cleary] Book Chapter, 2004

Financing and Need across District Municipalities in, editor(s)Ijumba P, Ntuli A and Barron P , The South African Health Review, 2002, Durban, Health Systems Trust, 2003, [Stephen Thomas, Debbie Muirhead, Sandi Mbatsha and Di McIntyre] Book Chapter, 2003

Health financing and expenditure in the post-apartheid era in, editor(s)Ijumba P, Ntuli A and Barron P , The South African Health Review, 2002, Health Systems Trust, Durban, 2003, [Jane Doherty, Stephen Thomas, Debbie Muirhead, Di McIntyre] Book Chapter, 2003

Introduction: Intervening in the Public Private Mix. The Strategy of Policy Action in, editor(s)Soderlund N, Mendoza-Arana P, Goudge J , The New Public Private Mix in Health: Exploring the Changing Landscape, Geneva, The Alliance for Health Systems Research and the EU, 2003, [Lucy Gilson and Stephen Thomas] Book Chapter, 2003

Steve Thomas, Except in the South, Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 2, (3), 2003, p128 - 129 Journal Article, 2003

Lucy Gilson, Jane Doherty, Sally Lake, Di McIntyre, Chris Mwikisa, Stephen Thomas, The SAZA Study: implementing health financing reform in South Africa and Zambia, Health Policy and Planning, 18, (1), 2003, p31 - 46 Journal Article, 2003

Financing and Expenditure in the post-apartheid Public Health Sector in, The South African Health Review 2000, Durban, Health Systems Trust, 2000, [Stephen Thomas, Debbie Muirhead, Jane Doherty and Charlotte Muheki] Book Chapter, 2000

Lucy Gilson, Jane Doherty, Di McIntyre, Stephen Thomas Vishal Brijlal, Chris Bowa, and Sandi Mbatsha, The dynamics of policy change: health care financing in South Africa, 1994-1999, Johannesburg, Centre for Health Policy, for the Centre for Health Policy (University of the Witwatersrand), 1999 Book, 1999

Equity in Public Sector Health Care Financing and Expenditure in South Africa in, The South African Health Care Review, 1999, Durban, Health Systems Trust, 1999, [Di McIntyre, Stephen Thomas, Sandi Mbatsha, Luvuyo Baba] Book Chapter, 1999

James Killingsworth, Najmul Hossain, Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Stephen Thomas, Aziz Rahman, Tahmina Begum, Unofficial fees in Bangladesh: price, equity and institutional issues, Health Policy and Planning, 14, (2), 1999, p152 - 163 Journal Article, 1999

Stephen Thomas, James Killingsworth and Shambhu Acharya, Self-Selection, User Fees and the Poor in Bangladesh, Health Policy and Planning, 13, (1), 1998, p50 - 58 Journal Article, 1998

Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

Kathleen Harkin, Jan Sorensen, Steve Thomas, OP37 Lifecycle Evaluation Models And Frameworks Used To Assess Medical Devices: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis, International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care (IJTAHC), HTAi 2022 Utrecht, Beatrix Theatre, Utrecht, Netherlands, 25-29 June 2022, 38, (S1), Cambridge University Press, 2022, ppS15 - S15 Oral Presentation, 2022 DOI URL

Kathleen Harkin, Thomas Steve, Sorensen Jan., Who Regulates Medical Devices? A Regulatory Review, 6th Annual SPHeRE Network Conference 2020, Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI), 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland, 25 February, 2020 Poster, 2020

Mandy Lee, Margaret Martin-Carroll, Wendy Von Mollendorff, Steve Thomas, Review of International Best Practices of Waiting List and Waiting Time Reporting Models for Elective Treatments in Acute Care , Ireland, National Treatment Purchase Fund, April, 2019 Report, 2019

Stephen Thomas, Charles Normand, Samantha Smith, Social Health Insurance: Further Options for Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, Adelaide Hospital Society, 2008 Report, 2008

Stephen Thomas, Charles Normand, Samantha Smith, Tom O'Dowd, A new deal for primary care for the Irish people, Health Manager, (August/September), 2008, p17 - 18 Journal Article, 2008

Prof.. Richard Layte, Prof. Miriam Wiley, Dr Jacqueline O'Reilly, Dr Aoife Brick Dr Kathleen Bennett, Ms Maev-Ann Wren, Dr Steve Thomas , Projecting the Impact of Demographic Change on the Demand for and Delivery of Health Care in Ireland, Dublin, ESRI, 2008 Book, 2008

Stephen Thomas, Charles Normand and Samantha Smith, Social Health Insurance: Options for Ireland, Dublin, The Adelaide Hospital Society, November 23rd, 2006 Report, 2006

Irish Independent , (2006) Journal, 2006 URL

Steve Thomas, International collaboration to stop pandemics, Irish Medical Times, 23, (44), 2006 Journal Article, 2006 URL

Stephen Thomas, Social Health Insurance Scoping Study: An Interim Report, Trinity College Dublin, May, 2006 Report, 2006

Gavin Mooney, Stephen Thomas and Michael Thiede, MESH and the Financing of PHC in South Africa, Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town, 2004 Book, 2004

Stephen Thomas and Okore Okorafor, Progress toward equity in the Financing of PHC services in South Africa, Third International Conference of the International Society for Equity in Health (ISEqH), Durban, 2004 Conference Paper, 2004

Stephen Thomas, James Killingsworth, Institutional Aspects of Health Reforms and Implications for Informal Fee Practices in China and Bangladesh, 4th international Health Economics Association (iHEA) World Congress: Global Health Economics - Bridging Research and Reforms, San Francisco, 2003 Conference Paper, 2003

Okore Okorafor, Stephen Thomas and Di McIntyre, An Evaluation of Public PHC Financing, 1992/93-2002/03, University of Cape Town, Health Economics Unit, 2003 Report, 2003

Susan Cleary, Stephen Thomas, Understanding the Implications of Health Services Trade: A South African Case Study, 4th iHEA World Congress: Global Health Economics - Bridging Research and Reforms, 2003 Conference Paper, 2003

Sandi Mbatsha, Stephen Thomas, Debbie Muirhead, Di McIntyre, Health Financing, Need and Deprivation-Based Budgeting in South Africa, 4th iHEA World Congress: Global Health Economics - Bridging Research and Reforms, 2003 Conference Paper, 2003

Sandi Mbatsha, Stephen Thomas, Debbie Muirhead, Okore Okorafor, Health Financing of PHC services and Need in South Africa, 1st Conference of the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA), Cape Town, 2003 Conference Paper, 2003

Stephen Thomas, James Killingsworth, Using National Health Accounts to monitor and evaluate the impact of Trade in Health Services on Health System Performance, 4th iHEA World Congress: Global Health Economics - Bridging Research and Reforms, 2003 Conference Paper, 2003

Stephen Thomas, Sandi Mbatsha, Debbie Muirhead and Okore Okorafor, Primary Health Care Financing and Need across Health Districts in South Africa, Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town, 2003 Book, 2003

Juliet Nabyonga, Nzoya Munguti, Stephen Thomas, Takondwa Mwase, Ibrahim Shehata, Debbie Muirhead, Anna Matowo, Michael Miraw, Pamela Naikamba, Manuel Ndimande, Emanuel Kabanda, National Health Accounts (NHA) in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA): A Comparative Analysis, Eastern and Southern African National Health Accounts Network, 2002 Report, 2002

Sandi Mbatsha and Stephen Thomas, Health Financing, Need and Deprivation-based budgeting in South Africa, Second International Conference of the International Society for Equity in Health (ISEqH), Toronto, 2002 Conference Paper, 2002

Jane Doherty, Stephen Thomas and Debbie Muirhead, Health Financing and Expenditure in Post-Apartheid South Africa 1996/97 - 1998/99. The National Health Accounts Project Consolidated Report, University of Cape Town, Health Economics Unit, 2002 Report, 2002

Lucy Gilson and Stephen Thomas, Informing Policy and Practice: Developing a policy analysis framework for evaluation of health system change, University of Cape Town, Centre for Health Policy, University of Witswatersrand and Health Economics Unit, 2001 Report, 2001

Stephen Thomas and Lucy Gilson, Agency and Transaction Costs in Health Financing Policy Formulation, IHEA 3rd World Congress, 23rd-25th July, Centre for Health Economics, York, UK, 2001 Conference Paper, 2001

Stephen Thomas, Lucy Gilson, Jane Doherty, Di McIntyre, Vishal Brijlal, Chris Bowa, Sandi Mbatsha, Financing reform in South Africa: Medals and banana skins, Third National Health Accounts regional workshop for the East and Southern Africa Region, Health Economics Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa, 10-14 April, 2000 Conference Paper, 2000

Stephen Thomas, Lucy Gilson, Jane Doherty, Di McIntyre, Vishal Brijlal, Chris Bowa, Sandi Mbatsha, Health Financing Reforms in South Africa: Medals and Banana Skins, Asia Pacific Health Economics Network (APHEN) 2000 and 5th Annual Conference of the Health Economics Unit, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 4th-6th July, 2000 Conference Paper, 2000

Stephen Thomas and Lucy Gilson, Managing Actors in Financing Reform: Strategic Choices in South Africa, CERDI Conference: "Financing health systems in low income African and Asian countries" , Clermont-Ferrand. France, 30th Nov - 1st Dec, 2000 Conference Paper, 2000

Di McIntyre, Lucy Gilson, Jane Doherty, Stephen Thomas, Vishal Brijlal, Chris Bowa, Sandi Mbatsha, Promoting equity? Recent health financing reforms in SA, Epidemiological Society of Southern Africa, East London, South Africa, 23-25 February, 2000 Conference Paper, 2000

Stephen Thomas and Debbie Muirhead, The Public Sector Report. National Health Accounts Project, University of Cape Town, Health Economics Unit, 2000 Report, 2000

Stephen Thomas, Debbie Muirhead, Jane Doherty and Charlotte Muheki, Confronting the Apartheid Legacy: Public Health Financing and expenditure in the new South Africa, CERDI Conference: "Financing health systems in low income African and Asian countries", Clermont-Ferrand. France, 30th Nov - 1st Dec, 2000 Conference Paper, 2000

Nicole Valentine, Andile Tintelo, Stephen Thomas and Beth Engelbrecht, A District Health Expenditure Review of Mt Currie, Health Economics Unit and ISDS, 1999 Report, 1999

Stephen Thomas and Prem Brijlal, National Health Accounts In South Africa: Policy Relevance And Institutionalisation, IHEA 2nd World Congress, International Trade Centre in Rotterdam, 6th-9th June, 1999 Conference Paper, 1999

Jane Doherty, Lucy Gilson, Di McIntyre, Stephen Thomas Vishal Brijlal, Chris Bowa, and Sandi Mbatsha, Social Health Insurance In South Africa: Past, Present and Future, University of The Wi, Centre for Health Policy, 1999 Report, 1999

Stephen Thomas and Prem Brijlal, National Health Accounts In South Africa: Policy Relevance and Institutionalisation, NHA Symposium, International Trade Centre in Rotterdam, 4th-5th June, 1999 Conference Paper, 1999

Dave McCoy, Stephen Thomas, Bupendra Makan and Davies Chimfwembe, District Expenditure and Resource Allocation Reviews for Effective DHS Management: A Review of Expenditure and Resource Allocation in the Mount Frere Health District, Durban, 1998 Report, 1998

Vishal Brijlal, Lucy Gilson, Jacqueline Mahon, Di McIntyre, Stephen Thomas, Key Issues in Decentralisation: A Background Paper, 1997 Working Paper, 1997

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth, Stephen Thomas and Carl Vincent, An Assessment of the Flow of Funds in the Bangladesh Health and Population Sectors, Research Paper 5, 1996 Working Paper, 1996

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth and Stephen Thomas, Balancing Future Resources and Expenditures in the GOB Health and Population Sectors, Research Paper 3, 1996 Working Paper, 1996

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth, Stephen Thomas, Nafiza Anwar and Raqibul Anwar, An Agenda for Health Economics Research Concerning Antibiotics Usage Standards in Developing Countries: the Case of Bangladesh, Research Note 6, 1996 Working Paper, 1996

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth, Stephen Thomas and Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Key Issues in Costing an Essential Package of Health Services for Bangladesh, Research Note 4, 1996 Working Paper, 1996

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth, Stephen Thomas and Shambhu Acharya, User Fees, Self-Selection and the Poor in Bangladesh, Research Note 5, 1996 Working Paper, 1996

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth, Stephen Thomas, Nazmul Hossain and Thamina Begum, Mobilising Resources through Hospital User Fees in Bangladesh: A report on Quality and Ability to Pay, Research Paper 4, 1996 Working Paper, 1996

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth, Stephen Thomas, Nazmul Hossain and Thamina Begum, Mobilising Resources through Hospital User Fees in Bangladesh: A report on Quality and Ability to Pay, Research Paper 4, 1995 Working Paper, 1995

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth and Stephen Thomas, An Analysis of Recurrent Costs in the GOB Health and Population Sectors, Research Paper 2, 1995 Working Paper, 1995

Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth and Stephen Thomas, Public Expenditure Review of the Health and Population Sectors, Research Paper 1, 1995 Working Paper, 1995

Research Expertise

Description

Health Financing and Universal Health Care; Health Policy Analysis; Human Resource Motivation and Workforce Planning Health System Resilience, Performance and Evaluation

Projects

  • Title
    • Towards Dynamic Resilience in Health System Performance and Reform (RESTORE)
  • Summary
    • This research programme examines the key challenges facing the Sláintecare reform programme and evaluates strategies to facilitate its effective and thorough implementation in a complex adaptive system. It reviews the causality of how shocks to the system (such as COVID and the 2008 financial crisis) challenge or even facilitate reform. In particular it evaluates public sector staff engagement over time both as a sign of resilience and a precondition for the implementation of effective change. The proposed research combines both qualitative data from stakeholder and key informant interviews, with quantitative data from surveys of health sector staff, alongside a review of key system metrics and the progress of reform. It will develop evidence-based strategies for policy makers in government to manage the competing tensions between system performance and reform to achieve universal care through enhanced resilience.
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 1st November 2020
  • Date To
    • 31st October 2025
  • Title
    • Progressing Sláintecare delivery from proposal to implementation: Insights from palliative care in Ireland
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 1st January 2021
  • Date To
    • 31st December 2023
  • Title
    • Health system foundations for effective Regional Integrated Care Organisations (RICOs) - co-producing evidence to inform the design of regional organisations to support integrated care in Ireland
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board, HSE and Department of Health
  • Date From
    • 01/09/2019
  • Date To
    • 31/08/2021
  • Title
    • Out-of-hours provision of generalist and specialist palliative care services: An evidence review
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 01/08/2018
  • Date To
    • 31/03/2019
  • Title
    • Identifying Best Practices in Waiting Time and Waiting List Reporting
  • Funding Agency
    • National Treatment Purchase Fund
  • Date From
    • 01/02/2018
  • Date To
    • 30/04/2019
  • Title
    • SPHERE (Structured Population and Health-services Research Education) II Programme
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 01/05/2018
  • Date To
    • 31/03/2025
  • Title
    • Technical Assistance to the Oireachtas Future Healthcare Committee
  • Funding Agency
    • House of the Oireachtas
  • Date From
    • January 2017
  • Date To
    • May 2017
  • Title
    • Research on Evaluating Quality of Care
  • Summary
    • PhD Scholarship
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Service Executive
  • Date From
    • February 2016
  • Date To
    • January 2020
  • Title
    • Progressing Universal health Care: Informing Citizens by pooling and disseminating research and generating debate
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • November 2015
  • Date To
    • November 2016
  • Title
    • Mapping the Pathway to Universal Health Care in Ireland
  • Summary
    • This research project aims to provide an excellent evidence base that will inform strategic direction and implementation of universal health care in Ireland. The research will consist of three components: 1) Assessing the gap between current Irish health system performance and universal health care, using and adapting WHO concepts. 2) Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of different models of universal health care and assessing their feasibility of implementation within the current context according to key criteria such as affordability, human resources and complexity of design. 3) Assessing the organisational challenges of moving to universal health care by reviewing the experience of other countries and exploring the current capacity and constraints facing decision makers throughout the system.
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 01/10/2014
  • Date To
    • 30/09/2017
  • Title
    • Appropriate Care in the Appropriate Setting: The Impact of the Health Service Executive Transformation Programme on Utilisation, Patient Experience, Safety and Outcome in Urgent and Emergency Care
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 01/04/2013
  • Date To
    • 30/03/2017
  • Title
    • Structured Population and Health Research Programme (SPHERE)
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 01/10/2013
  • Date To
    • 30/09/2021
  • Title
    • Knowledge Exchange linked to the Resilience Project
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • November 2012
  • Date To
    • October 2013
  • Title
    • Development of a model to forecast the demand for and supply of GP and practice nurse services
  • Funding Agency
    • Department of Health
  • Date From
    • 01/10/2011
  • Date To
    • 28/02/2012
  • Title
    • Public Subsidization of Non-State Health Facilities to Expand Access and Risk- Protection in Malawi
  • Funding Agency
    • Alliance for Health Policy and Systems
  • Date From
    • 01/02/2011
  • Date To
    • 31/01/2012
  • Title
    • The Resilience of the Irish Health System
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 01/10/2011
  • Date To
    • 31/03/2014
  • Title
    • Doctor Migration into Ireland
  • Funding Agency
    • Health Research Board
  • Date From
    • 01/01/2011
  • Date To
    • 01/10/2014
  • Title
    • ChRAIC project
  • Funding Agency
    • Higher Education Authority
  • Date From
    • 01/09/2008
  • Date To
    • 30/08/2013
  • Title
    • Research on Social Health Insurance in Ireland
  • Funding Agency
    • Adelaide Hospital Society
  • Date From
    • March 2008
  • Date To
    • March 2010

Keywords

Economics of health service provision; Government Studies; Health Care Economics; Health management; Health status and inequalities; Health Systems Integration; Identification and quantification of health care needs; Political Economics/Economy; Primary care; Public Planning/Policy; Public, private mix network

Recognition

Representations

Editorial Board Member, Health Policy May

I am an advisor to the Department of Health on its International Advisory Board of the Performance Accountability for the Irish Health System project 2020

I provided technical support to the European Commission Health Systems Performance Assessment Working Group in its understanding, documentation and evaluation of health system resilience across the EU 2018-2020

Regular reviewer for Health Policy and Planning

Editorial Board Member: BIOMED Central - Globalisation and Health Oct 06 - Dec 08

Reviewer for BIOMED Central - Health Services Research

Reviewer for Social Science and Medicine

Honorary Editorial Board Member for Applied Health Economics and Health Policy 2004-2007

Awards and Honours

Fellowship of Trinity College Dublin May 2021

Economics Scholarship, St Peter's College, Oxford October 1987

Fellowship, Institute for International Integration Studies June-July 2004

Memberships

Member of the International Health Economics Association 1998