Academic interests
Research interests within global health policy:
- Health systems strengthening, including priority setting and public health interventions
- Global health security, including pandemic preparedness and antimicrobial resistance
- Development assistance for health
Background
- MD, PhD
- Currently Executive Director at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health; Associate Professor at the University of Oslo; and Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa.
- Directs the Oslo Group on Global Health Policy
- Previously worked with the Norwegian Committee on Priority Setting in the Health Sector; the WHO Consultative Group on Equity and Universal Health Coverage; the Centre on Global Health Security at Chatham House; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and the UN Special Envoy on Ebola.
Download CV (pdf)
Partners
Tags:
global health,
global health policy,
Global South
Publications
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Kurowski, Christoph; Evans, David B.; Ottersen, Trygve; Gopinathan, Unni; Dale, Elina & Norheim, Ole Frithjof
(2023).
New strides towards fair processes for financing universal health coverage.
Health Policy and Planning.
ISSN 0268-1080.
38,
p. i5–i8.
doi:
10.1093/heapol/czad065.
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Clarsen, Benjamin Matthew; Nylenna, Magne; Klitkou, Søren Toksvig; Vollset, Stein Emil; Baravelli, Carl Michael & Bølling, Anette Kocbach
[Show all 31 contributors for this article]
(2022).
Changes in life expectancy and disease burden in Norway, 1990–2019: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.
The Lancet Public Health.
ISSN 2468-2667.
7(7),
p. e593–e605.
doi:
10.1016/S2468-2667(22)00092-5.
Full text in Research Archive
Show summary
Background: Geographical differences in health outcomes are reported in many countries. Norway has led an active policy aiming for regional balance since the 1970s. Using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2019, we examined regional differences in development and current state of health across Norwegian counties.
Methods: Data for life expectancy, healthy life expectancy (HALE), years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in Norway and its 11 counties from 1990 to 2019 were extracted from GBD 2019. County-specific contributors to changes in life expectancy were compared. Inequality in disease burden was examined by use of the Gini coefficient.
Findings: Life expectancy and HALE improved in all Norwegian counties from 1990 to 2019. Improvements in life expectancy and HALE were greatest in the two counties with the lowest values in 1990: Oslo, in which life expectancy and HALE increased from 71·9 years (95% uncertainty interval 71·4-72·4) and 63·0 years (60·5-65·4) in 1990 to 81·3 years (80·0-82·7) and 70·6 years (67·4-73·6) in 2019, respectively; and Troms og Finnmark, in which life expectancy and HALE increased from 71·9 years (71·5-72·4) and 63·5 years (60·9-65·6) in 1990 to 80·3 years (79·4-81·2) and 70·0 years (66·8-72·2) in 2019, respectively. Increased life expectancy was mainly due to reductions in cardiovascular disease, neoplasms, and respiratory infections. No significant differences between the national YLD or DALY rates and the corresponding age-standardised rates were reported in any of the counties in 2019; however, Troms og Finnmark had a higher age-standardised YLL rate than the national rate (8394 per 100 000 [95% UI 7801-8944] vs 7536 per 100 000 [7391-7691]). Low inequality between counties was shown for life expectancy, HALE, all level-1 causes of DALYs, and exposure to level-1 risk factors.
Interpretation: Over the past 30 years, Norway has reduced inequality in disease burden between counties. However, inequalities still exist at a within-county level and along other sociodemographic gradients. Because of insufficient Norwegian primary data, there remains substantial uncertainty associated with regional estimates for non-fatal disease burden and exposure to risk factors.
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Cyr, Pascale Renée; Jain, Vageesh; Chalkidou, Kalipso; Ottersen, Trygve & Gopinathan, Unni
(2021).
Evaluations of public health interventions produced by health technology assessment agencies: A mapping review and analysis by type and evidence content.
Health Policy.
ISSN 0168-8510.
125(8),
p. 1054–1064.
doi:
10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.05.009.
Full text in Research Archive
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Kriegner, Sabrina; Ottersen, Trygve; Røttingen, John-Arne & Gopinathan, Unni
(2020).
Promoting Intersectoral Collaboration Through the Evaluations of Public Health Interventions: Insights From Key Informants in 6 European Countries.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management.
ISSN 2322-5939.
10(2),
p. 67–76.
doi:
10.34172/ijhpm.2020.19.
Full text in Research Archive
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Ooms, Gorik; Ottersen, Trygve; Jahn, Albrecht & Agyepong, Irene Akua
(2018).
Addressing the fragmentation of global health: the Lancet Commission on synergies between universal health coverage, health security, and health promotion.
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The Lancet.
ISSN 0140-6736.
392(10153),
p. 1098–1099.
doi:
10.1016/S0140-6736(18)32072-5.
Full text in Research Archive
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Hoffman, Steven J.; Ottersen, Trygve; Tejpar, A; Baral, Prativa & Fafard, Patrick
(2018).
Towards a Systematic Understanding of How to Institutionally Design Scientific Advisory Committees: A Conceptual Framework and Introduction to a Special Journal Issue.
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Global Challenges.
ISSN 2056-6646.
2(9).
doi:
10.1002/gch2.201800020.
Full text in Research Archive
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Ottersen, Trygve; Grépin, Karen A.; Henderson, Klara; Pinkstaff, Crossley Beth; Norheim, Ole Frithjof & Røttingen, John-Arne
(2018).
New approaches to ranking countries for the allocation of development assistance for health: Choices, indicators and implications.
Health Policy and Planning.
ISSN 0268-1080.
33,
p. i31–i46.
doi:
10.1093/heapol/czx027.
Full text in Research Archive
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Martinsen, Lene; Ottersen, Trygve; Dieleman, Joseph; Hessel, Philipp; Kinge, Jonas Minet & Skirbekk, Vegard Fykse
(2018).
Do less populous countries receive more development assistance for health per capita? Longitudinal evidence for 143 countries, 1990–2014.
BMJ Global Health.
ISSN 2059-7908.
3:e000528,
p. 1–8.
doi:
10.1136/bmjgh-2017-000528.
Full text in Research Archive
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Hernæs, Ulrikke Johanne Voltersvik; Johansson, Kjell Arne; Ottersen, Trygve & Norheim, Ole Frithjof
(2017).
Distribution-Weighted Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Using Lifetime Health Loss.
PharmacoEconomics (Auckland).
ISSN 1170-7690.
35(9),
p. 965–974.
doi:
10.1007/s40273-017-0524-2.
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Skirbekk, Vegard; Ottersen, Trygve; Hamavid, Hannah; Sadat, Nafis; Sadat, Nafis & Dieleman, Joseph
(2017).
Vast majority of development assistance for health funds target those below age sixty.
Health Affairs.
ISSN 0278-2715.
36(5),
p. 926–930.
doi:
10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1370.
Full text in Research Archive
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Ooms, Gorik; Beiersmann, Claudia; Flores, Walter; Hanefeld, Johanna; Müller, Olaf & Mulumba, Moses
[Show all 9 contributors for this article]
(2017).
Synergies and tensions between universal health coverage and global health security: why we need a second ‘Maximizing Positive Synergies’ initiative.
BMJ Global Health.
ISSN 2059-7908.
doi:
10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000217.
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Ottersen, Trygve; Hoffman, Steven J. & Groux, Gaëlle
(2016).
Ebola again shows the International Health Regulations are broken: What can be done differently to prepare for the next epidemic?
American Journal of Law & Medicine (AJLM).
ISSN 0098-8588.
42(2–3),
p. 356–392.
doi:
10.1177/0098858816658273.
Show summary
Epidemics are among the greatest threats to humanity, and the International Health Regulations are the world's key legal instrument for addressing this threat. Since their revision in 2005, the IHR have faced two big tests: the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic and the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. Both exposed major shortcomings of the IHR, and both offered profound lessons for the future.
The objective of this Article is twofold. First, we seek to compare the lessons learned from H1N1 and Ebola for reforming the IHR in order to test the hypothesis that they are similar. Second, we seek to examine the barriers to implementing these lessons and to identify strategies for overcoming those barriers.
We find that the lessons from H1N1 and Ebola are indeed similar, and that opportunities to act on lessons from H1N1 were woefully missed. We identify many political barriers to global collective action and implementation of lessons for the IHR. On that basis, we describe strategies to overcome these barriers, which will hopefully be deployed now to reform the IHR before the policy window following Ebola closes, and before the inevitable next epidemic comes. The emerging threat of the Zika virus underscores that we have no time to waste.
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Ottersen, Trygve
(2013).
Lifetime QALY prioritarianism in priority setting.
Journal of Medical Ethics.
ISSN 0306-6800.
39(3),
p. 175–180.
doi:
10.1136/medethics-2012-100740.
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Ottersen, Trygve; Mbilinyi, Deogratius; Mæstad, Ottar & Norheim, Ole Frithjof
(2008).
Distribution matters: Equity considerations among health planners in Tanzania.
Health Policy.
ISSN 0168-8510.
85(2),
p. 218–227.
doi:
10.1016/j.healthpol.2007.07.012.
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Gopinathan, Unni; Peacocke, Elizabeth Fleur; Gouglas, Dimitrios; Ottersen, Trygve & Røttingen, John Arne
(2020).
R&D for Emerging Infectious Diseases of Epidemic Potential: Sharing Risks and Benefits Through a New Coalition.
Springer Nature.
ISBN 978-3-030-39819-4.
28 p.
View all works in Cristin
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Solvang, Fredrik; Grødeland, Gunnveig; Nakstad, Anders Rostrup; Kjerkhol, Ingvild; Ottersen, Trygve & Haugen, Heidi Østbø
(2023).
Debatten - Virusene herjer.
[TV].
NRK - Debatten.
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Ottersen, Trygve; Høstmælingen, Njål; Forland, Frode & Røttingen, John-Arne
(2021).
Norge og den globale krisen.
In Tvedten, Hilde Marie; Vikum, Eirik Frønæs; Holtermann, Merete Kile & Larsen, Vilde Bergstad (Ed.),
Folkehelserapportens temautgave 2021. Folkehelsen etter covid-19. Pandemiens konsekvenser for ulike grupper i befolkningen.
Folkehelseinstituttet.
ISSN 978-82-8406-244-0.
Show summary
Til tross for at Norge har godt utbygde helse- og omsorgstjenester og høy tillit til myndighetene i befolkningen, er vi helt avhengige av internasjonalt samarbeid for å håndtere helsekriser. Samtidig har pandemien satt de store globale ulikhetene i helse på spissen.
Kan pandemien påvirke det globale samarbeid om helse på lengre sikt?
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Larsen, Vilde Bergstad; Telle, Kjetil Elias & Ottersen, Trygve
(2021).
Helse- og omsorgstjenestene under pandemien.
In Tvedten, Hilde Marie; Vikum, Eirik Frønæs; Holtermann, Merete Kile & Larsen, Vilde Bergstad (Ed.),
Folkehelserapportens temautgave 2021. Folkehelsen etter covid-19. Pandemiens konsekvenser for ulike grupper i befolkningen.
Folkehelseinstituttet.
ISSN 978-82-8406-244-0.
p. 56–60.
Show summary
Mye av kampen mot pandemien har blitt ført av helse- og omsorgstjenestene, og en viktig forutsetning i pandemihåndteringen har vært å unngå å overbelaste sykehusene.
Som et resultat har kommuner og sykehus måttet omdisponere helsepersonell og prioritere hardt mellom pasientgruppene som ikke har hatt covid-19. Kan det få konsekvenser på sikt?
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Enria, Delia; Feng, Zijian; Fretheim, Atle; Ihekweazu, Chikwe; Ottersen, Trygve & Schuchat, Anne
[Show all 14 contributors for this article]
(2021).
Strengthening the evidence base for decisions on public health and social measures.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
ISSN 0042-9686.
99(9),
p. 610–610A.
doi:
10.2471/BLT.21.287054.
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Gopinathan, Unni; Ottersen, Trygve; Cyr, Pascale Renée & Chalkidou, Kalipso
(2021).
Evidence-Informed Deliberative Processes for HTA Around the Globe: Exploring the Next Frontiers of HTA and Best Practices; Comment on “Use of Evidence-informed Deliberative Processes by Health Technology Assessment Agencies Around the Globe”.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management.
ISSN 2322-5939.
10(4),
p. 232–236.
doi:
10.34172/ijhpm.2020.145.
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Norheim, Ole Frithjof & Ottersen, Trygve
(2020).
Setting Priorities in the Pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.
In Norheim, Ole Frithjof; Emanuel, Ezekiel J. & Millum, Joseph (Ed.),
Global Health Priority-Setting: Beyond Cost-Effectiveness.
Oxford University Press.
ISSN 9780190912765.
Full text in Research Archive
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Norheim, Ole Frithjof; Asaria, Miqdad; Johansson, Kjell Arne; Ottersen, Trygve & Tsuchiya, Aki
(2020).
Level-dependent equity weights.
In Cookson, Richard; Griffin, Susan; Norheim, Ole Frithjof & Culyer, Anthony J. (Ed.),
Distributional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.
Oxford University Press.
ISSN 9780198838197.
Full text in Research Archive
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Røttingen, John-Arne & Ottersen, Trygve
(2018).
Supra‐SAC: Need and Role for an All‐of‐Government Scientific Advisory Committee.
Global Challenges.
ISSN 2056-6646.
2(1700075).
doi:
10.1002/gch2.201700075.
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Hoffman, Steven J.; Ottersen, Trygve; Baral, Prativa & Fafard, Patrick
(2018).
Designing Scientific Advisory Committees for a
Complex World
.
Global Challenges.
ISSN 2056-6646.
2(1800075),
p. 1–2.
doi:
10.1002/gch2.201800075.
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Gopinathan, Unni & Ottersen, Trygve
(2017).
Evidence-informed deliberative processes for universal health coverage: broadening the scope.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management.
ISSN 2322-5939.
6(8),
p. 473–475.
doi:
10.15171/ijhpm.2016.148.
Full text in Research Archive
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Ottersen, Trygve & Schmidt, Harald
(2017).
Universal health coverage and public health: ensuring parity and complementarity.
American Journal of Public Health.
ISSN 0090-0036.
107(2),
p. 248–250.
doi:
10.2105/AJPH.2016.303590.
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Ottersen, Trygve
(2015).
Sharing financial responsibilities.
In Frenk, Julio & Hoffman, Steven J. (Ed.),
To save humanity: what matters most for a healthy future.
Oxford University Press.
ISSN 9780190221546.
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Ottersen, Trygve & Norheim, Ole Frithjof
(2014).
Making fair choices on the path to universal health coverage.
Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
ISSN 0042-9686.
92(6).
doi:
10.2471/BLT.14.139139.
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Ottersen, Trygve; Grépin, Karen; Pinkstaff, Crossley B.; Clift, Charles; Norheim, Ole Frithjof & Røttingen, John-Arne
(2016).
Health and development: an explicit approach to the design and assessment of country classification frameworks. Final report for the Equitable Access Initiative by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
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Ottersen, Trygve; Kamath, Aparna; Moon, Suerie & Røttingen, John-Arne
(2014).
Development assistance for health: quantitative allocation criteria and contribution norms. Centre on Global Health Security Working Group Papers. London: Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House).
Chatham House.
ISSN 9781784130015.
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Published
Mar. 16, 2016 10:23 AM
- Last modified
Dec. 3, 2020 10:41 AM