Overcoming Political Fragmentation: The Potential of Meso-Level Mechanisms; Comment on “Integration or Fragmentation of Health Care? Examining Policies and Politics in a Belgian Case Study”

Abstract

Martens and colleagues’ paper “Integration or Fragmentation of Health Care? Examining Policies and Politics in a Belgian Case Study,” offers an in-depth examination of integrated care policy efforts in Belgium. A key finding in this case study was that political fragmentation proved too great an obstacle for integration efforts. In this commentary, I draw on the organizational behaviour and integrated care literatures to suggest how meso-level mechanisms related to sensemaking, distributive leadership, and evaluation could help overcome policy (or macro) level challenges like those experienced in Belgium. The commentary also suggests we need to consider and address both the process and normative challenges in these transformation efforts.

Keywords

• health policy
• integrated care
• change mechanisms
• belgium