While there is a considerable body of health systems information being generated, it is often not being used as a key input in the policy-making process.

The BRIDGE systematic review highlights several examples of health systems information:

not being used at all, being only partially used, being used to address one feature of an issue, or being used to justify already taken – political – decisions. In other examples, health systems information is being used instrumentally rather than to change how people think about and approach a problem, potential options to address it and ways to implement any or all options. One reason why health systems information is not being used as frequently or optimally as it might, is that it is just one of many factors that can influence policy-making processes. We must also recognize that policy-makers and stakeholders may not value health systems information or deem it relevant to the issues they face.