Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH)
“Our vision is better health for all. We have three main tasks: we provide knowledge, emergency preparedness and infrastructure to protect life and improve public health.”
History, structure and governance
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) was established in 2002 and acts as a national competence institution placed directly under the Ministry of Health and Care Services. The top management group includes the Director General and a handful of other people, including two Deputy Director-Generals. The Institute is divided into five divisions.
Mission
The NIPH social mission is to provide knowledge and systematic reviews to contribute to good public health efforts and healthcare services. In this way we contribute to better health, both in Norway and globally. The Institute is a national competence institution in the following areas:
● infectious disease control
● physical and mental health
● global health
● environmental factors, substance abuse, tobacco, nutrition, physical activity and other factors that affects health status and inequality
● health-promoting and preventive measures in the population.
How NIPH works
The Institute is divided into five divisions, of which the division for health services provides a knowledge base for decision makers at all levels in the health care services, from central government to the municipal health service. Our users include policy makers, administrators, health personnel, and patients across government, municipal health services, specialist health services and welfare sectors. We also make knowledge available to the general public directly. We offer evidence-based products and services within five areas: (1) health services research, (2) reviews and health technology assessments, (3) knowledge dissemination, and (4) global health.
Areas encompassed in Social Intervention Assessment
We provide systematic reviews of research on the impact of interventions in the health and welfare sectors, as well as systematic reviews on disease diagnosis, prognosis and patient experience. We conduct health technology assessments (HTAs), including assessments of the safety, effect and cost-effectiveness, of new interventions being considered for introduction into the health services.
Dissemination
We provide advice on how to put knowledge into action, and we conduct our own research on knowledge translation. We provide nationwide access to point-of-care information summaries, scientific journals and databases through The Norwegian Electronic Health Library. The Library is also a sharing platform and publishes guidelines and medical procedures on behalf of The Norwegian Directorate of Health and the health care trusts. We also conduct extensive educational activities, with an emphasis on teaching, to promote knowledge-based practice, and we support learning networks and quality improvement work for optimal care pathway in the municipalities.
Future Plans
We will continue to strengthen our support to decision makers and develop our products in response to their needs. We will continue to develop the role of the NIPH as a unique knowledge provider, while strengthening our collaboration with academia and other key partners. We will seek to expand our work through several new initiatives, including:
● generate knowledge at higher speed through the use of machine learning and new IT solutions
● support decision makers with knowledge, also where high-quality research is lacking
● work with partners to secure national access to existing and new point-of-care information summaries.
Agency Information
Country: Norway
Population served (mil): 5.3
Description of population served (level): National
Current SIA budget (mil Euro): 5.5
Permanent staff: 70
Consultants:
Ongoing SIA projects: number and/or list of topics. 10
Contact Information
Director General: Camilla Stoltenberg
Director SIA division: Kåre Birger Hagen
Contact person: Rigmor C Berg
Norwegian Institute of Public Health
P.O. Box 222 Skøyen, 0213 Oslo Norway
Phone number: +47 90802240
Internet: www.fhi.no/en
Email: rigmor.berg@fhi.no