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
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-
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
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
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
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-
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
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
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
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
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
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
Thomas,S, Johnston, J, Barry, S, Siersbaek, R, Burke, S., Sláintecare implementation status in 2020: Limited progress with entitlement expansion, Health Policy, 2021
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 ]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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-
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
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
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
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
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
Burke, S., Thomas, S., Barry, S., Keegan, C., The authors respond, Health Policy, 120, (3), 2016, p343-344
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
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
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
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, -
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]
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
"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]
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
Steve Thomas, Sara Burke, Sarah Barry, The Irish health-care system and austerity: sharing the pain, The Lancet, 383, (9928), 2014, p1545 - 1546
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]
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
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
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
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]
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
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]
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
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
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
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
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
Steve Thomas. Sara Burke, Coping with Austerity in the Irish Health System, Eurohealth, 18, (1), 2012, p7 - 9
Health Care Systems in, editor(s)Helmut Anheier and Mark Juergensmeyer , Encyclopedia of Global Studies, Thousand Oaks, CA, SAGE, 2012, pp783 - 786, [Steve Thomas]
Steve Thomas, Conor Keegan, Sarah Barry, Richard Layte, The Irish health system and the economic crisis, The Lancet, 380, (9847), 2012, p1056 - 1057
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]
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
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]
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
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
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
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
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
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
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]
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
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]
Steve Thomas, Squaring the Circle?, BMJ, 336, 2008
Stephen Thomas, The Oslo Ministerial Declaration: What a pity!, The Lancet, 369, (9580), 2007, p2159 - 2159
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
Stephen Thomas, Charles Normand, Ireland awaits, BMJ: British Medical Journal, 334, 2007
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
Joanne Kiniry, Steve Thomas and Laura Wyness, Implementing Mental Health and Psychosocial Guidelines, BMJ, 335, 2007
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
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
Stephen Thomas, Okore Okorafor, Sandi Mbatsha, Health Reform, Equity and Primary Health Care, Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 5, (1), 2006, p1 - 4
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
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]
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
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
Health Care Financing in, editor(s)Ijumba P , The South African Health Review, 2003, Durban, Health Systems Trust, 2004, [Mark Blecher and Stephen Thomas]
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
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
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]
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]
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]
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]
Steve Thomas, Except in the South, Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 2, (3), 2003, p128 - 129
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
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]
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
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]
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
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
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
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
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
Stephen Thomas, Charles Normand, Samantha Smith, Social Health Insurance: Further Options for Ireland, Trinity College Dublin, Adelaide Hospital Society, 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
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
Stephen Thomas, Charles Normand and Samantha Smith, Social Health Insurance: Options for Ireland, Dublin, The Adelaide Hospital Society, November 23rd, 2006
Irish Independent , (2006)
Steve Thomas, International collaboration to stop pandemics, Irish Medical Times, 23, (44), 2006
Stephen Thomas, Social Health Insurance Scoping Study: An Interim Report, Trinity College Dublin, May, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Stephen Thomas and Debbie Muirhead, The Public Sector Report. National Health Accounts Project, University of Cape Town, Health Economics Unit, 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
Nicole Valentine, Andile Tintelo, Stephen Thomas and Beth Engelbrecht, A District Health Expenditure Review of Mt Currie, Health Economics Unit and ISDS, 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
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
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
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
Vishal Brijlal, Lucy Gilson, Jacqueline Mahon, Di McIntyre, Stephen Thomas, Key Issues in Decentralisation: A Background 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
Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth and Stephen Thomas, Balancing Future Resources and Expenditures in the GOB Health and Population Sectors, Research Paper 3, 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
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
Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth, Stephen Thomas and Shambhu Acharya, User Fees, Self-Selection and the Poor in Bangladesh, Research Note 5, 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
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
Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth and Stephen Thomas, An Analysis of Recurrent Costs in the GOB Health and Population Sectors, Research Paper 2, 1995
Najmul Kawnine, James Killingsworth and Stephen Thomas, Public Expenditure Review of the Health and Population Sectors, Research Paper 1, 1995
Research Expertise
Description
Health Financing and Universal Health Care; Health Policy Analysis; Human Resource Motivation and Workforce Planning Health System Resilience, Performance and EvaluationProjects
- 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
- Structured Population and Health Research Programme (SPHERE)
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 01/10/2013
- Date To
- 30/09/2021
- 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
- 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
Recognition
Representations
Editorial Board Member, Health Policy
I am an advisor to the Department of Health on its International Advisory Board of the Performance Accountability for the Irish Health System project
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
Regular reviewer for Health Policy and Planning
Editorial Board Member: BIOMED Central - Globalisation and Health
Reviewer for BIOMED Central - Health Services Research
Reviewer for Social Science and Medicine
Honorary Editorial Board Member for Applied Health Economics and Health Policy
Awards and Honours
Fellowship of Trinity College Dublin
Economics Scholarship, St Peter's College, Oxford
Fellowship, Institute for International Integration Studies
Memberships
Member of the International Health Economics Association