Parliamentarily speaking: A thematic analysis of Kerala Legislative Assembly questions relating to health from 2016 to 2021

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Legislative assemblies often provide a platform for legislators to question the government during question hours, which are crucial for governance However, question hours remain understudied, especially when addressing health policy and systems related issues in lower- and middle-income countries. This study assesses the 14th Kerala Legislative Assembly questions, focusing on health-related areas to provide insights for health policy formulation and decision-making processes. Materials and Methods: We sourced and transcribed all starred questions (346) related to health that were answered by the health minister in the 14th Legislative Assembly between 2016 and 2021 from the archives of the assembly website. We conducted a thematic analysis of these questions and mapped them into various themes, guided by the World Health Organization building blocks framework. Results: About 7.8% of all questions (N = 4404) were related to health (N = 346). Of these questions, the majority were directly related to service delivery (43.4%), followed by health information (16.5%). Health financing, food safety, and human resources were the least discussed topics throughout the assessed period within the state. The legislators primarily focussed on health services and health information, with less attention given to health financing, food safety, and human resources regardless of constituency or political affiliation. Discussion: This study underscores the need for a balanced approach to public health issues, highlighting the importance of legislators to priortizing health services and information, while also addressing health financing, food safety, and human resources. This would enable a robust and resilient public health system to effectively address diverse health concerns.