- Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar
- University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Marwa Farag is currently an Associate Professor in the School of Public Policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Qatar. Previously, She worked as a senior research associate at the Schneider Institutes for Health Policy, Global Institute For Health and Development at Brandeis University. Dr. Farag’s international experience includes working in Iraq on health financing and resource allocation issues and on health sector reform in Egypt. Dr. Farag’s primary research areas are health policy, health financing, health economics, and health program planning and evaluation. Her research examining the relationships between economic development, governance, foreign aid and health outcomes at the country level has been widely cited in relevant academic journals and also by international aid organizations. More recent research projects include examining the burden of out of pocket drug and dental expenditures in Canada and economic evaluations of different health interventions. Dr. Farag has a M.Sc. in Health Policy, Planning and Financing (Health Economics) from the London School of Economics and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London. She has a second Msc. in International Health Policy and Management, and a Ph.D. in Health Policy from the Heller School For Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. Dr. Farag was also a research fellow at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG), Harvard University for two years.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on HPV Vaccination in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review
Background The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions in HPV vaccination and may have severely undermined global cervical cancer prevention, posing long-term risks to controlling cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases. Objective We conducted a scoping review to map and synthesize available evidence on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs in low-...
Qatar’s Mental Health Policies in Action: Exploring Patient Perspectives on Access and Care Services
Despite the significant wealth and resources of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Qatar, the region continues to face a substantial mental health burden and unmet healthcare needs. Understanding the barriers to accessing mental health services is essential for developing effective policy interventions. Given the limited research on this topic in Arab and Muslim...
Economic evaluation of the one-dose HPV vaccination program in Nigeria
Background This study retrospectively examines the cost-effectiveness of the national HPV vaccination program using the program cost and coverage data in Nigeria. Methods We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of the HPV vaccination program compared with no vaccination in Nigeria, adopting both health system and societal perspectives. A static Markov model simulating HPV infection and cervical...
The maternal and child mortality in the Middle East and North Africa between 2000 and 2020: the role of health financing
Improving maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes is a critical agenda item in global development. Health financing factors play a crucial role in affecting MCH outcomes, which vary substantially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This study aims to examine the trends in maternal mortality rate (MMR), infant mortality rate (IMR), and...
Factors facilitating the adoption of wellbeing budgets in New Zealand: a case study with budget actors
New Zealand made international waves when it implemented a wellbeing budget in 2019. We investigated the factors which facilitated the adoption of this novel budgeting policy. In interviews with 22 key informants from New Zealand’s central government, most interviewees (90% and over) emphasized the impact of politics, internal direction, and the international policy environment as...
Identifying risk factors for burnout-driven turnover in Canadian healthcare workers during the Covid-19 pandemic
Background/objectivesThe COVID-19 pandemic has tested health systems worldwide, exposing significant weaknesses and vulnerabilities, particularly its toll on healthcare workers (HCWs). This study aimed to identify risk factors leading Canadian HCWs to consider leaving their positions due to stress or burnout during the pandemic.MethodsData from the 2022 Survey on Healthcare Workers’ Experiences During the Pandemic (SHCWEP)...
Determinants of national health expenditure
Health expenditures, their composition, increase and causes have been a source of concern and study for a long time. The key determinants of national health expenditures are the organization of health systems, population needs, level of income and its distribution; the supply of health services and technology. There exists significant variation across countries on not...
Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on self-reported levels of depression during the pandemic relative to pre-pandemic among Canadian adults
ObjectivesThis study aims to assess the impact of COVID-19 related risk factors on self-reported increases in depression among Canadian adults during the pandemic compared to pre-pandemic levels. We aim to investigate the interactive effects of stressors, including social isolation, financial stress, and fear of catching COVID-19, on mental health outcomes. Our study aims to provide...
Food security and socioeconomic disparities of Afghan refugees in transitory countries and Canada
This study aims to explore the food security status of refugees prior to and after resettlement in Canada. Using a convergent mixed-method design, quantitative (household food security assessment and socioeconomic status questionnaires) and qualitative (in-depth interviews regarding refugee experience, life challenges, and food-related challenges in both the transitory country and Canada) tools were used to...
Understanding inequities in child mortality in Egypt: Socioeconomic and proximate factors
While there have been notable advancements in child health in Egypt, disparities in child mortality still exist. Understanding these disparities is crucial to addressing them. The objective of this study is to explore the factors linked to child mortality in Egypt, providing a comprehensive understanding of the disparities in child mortality rates. The study utilises...