Professor Augustine Asante

Professor Augustine Asante

Associate Professor
Medicine & Health
School of Population Health

Research Interests:
Augustine Asante is Associate Professor of Health Economics and Health Systems at the UNSW School of Population Health. He has over 20 years of research experience in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). He has worked extensively in the Asia-Pacific region and sub-Saharan Africa evaluating complex health systems interventions, including assessing the equity and efficiency impact of different health financing mechanisms to inform national and global health policies and support government efforts to achieve universal health coverage and other health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He has led the implementation of many health financing and health systems research projects in different LMICs, including Cambodia, Fiji, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Rwanda, and Ghana. He holds a B. A (Hons) degree from the University of Ghana, MSc from Stockholm University (Sweden), and PhD from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. He has worked as a Consultant Health Economist for the World Bank in Timor-Leste and also consulted on health financing and health systems issues for several multilateral and bilateral agencies including WHO and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). He is currently the Director of the Master of Global Health (MGH) program at the School of Population Health and Founding Director of the Centre for Health Financing and Systems Innovation Africa - an independent non-profit organization dedicated to conducting high-quality health financing and systems research in Africa (www.chefsia.org).

Research Areas:
Health Economics and Financing in Low and Middle-Income Countries, Health Systems, Health Management, Global Health

Qualifications:
BA(Hons), PGDip, MSocSci, MSc, PhD

Phone
02 9385 8683
  • Books | 2011
    Asante AD; Hall J; Roberts G, 2011, A review of health leadership and management capacity in Papua New Guinea, Human Resources for Health Knowledge Hub, UNSW, Sydney Australia
    Books | 2011
    Asante AD; Roberts G; Hall J, 2011, A review of health leadership and management capacity in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Human Resources for Health Knowledge Hub, UNSW, Sydney Australia
  • Book Chapters | 2021
    Kirigia D; Asante A, 2021, 'United Nations and Global Health', in Handbook of Global Health: With 362 Figures and 152 Tables, pp. 2801 - 2831, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45009-0_119
    Book Chapters | 2021
    Kirigia D; Asante A, 2021, 'United Nations and Global Health', in Handbook of Global Health, Springer International Publishing, pp. 1 - 32, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05325-3_119-1
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Balasooriya C; Asante A; Jayasinha R; Razee H, 2014, 'Academic mobility & migration: Reflections of International Academics in Australia.', in Academic Mobility. International Perspectives on Higher Education Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 117 - 135, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/S1479-3628_2014_11
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Balasooriya C; Asante A; Jayasinha R; Razee H, 2014, 'Academic mobility and migration: Reflections of international academics in Australia', in Academic Mobility, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp. 117 - 135, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/s1479-3628_2014_0000011013
  • Journal articles | 2023
    Asante A; Cheng Q; Susilo D; Satrya A; Haemmerli M; Fattah RA; Kosen S; Novitasari D; Puteri GC; Adawiyah E; Hayen A; Mills A; Tangcharoensathien V; Jan S; Thabrany H; Wiseman V, 2023, 'The benefits and burden of health financing in Indonesia: analyses of nationally representative cross-sectional data', The Lancet Global Health, 11, pp. e770 - e780, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00064-5
    Journal articles | 2023
    Awaworyi Churchill S; Asante A, 2023, 'Neighbourhood crime and obesity: Longitudinal evidence from Australia', Social Science and Medicine, 337, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116289
    Journal articles | 2023
    Bobo F; Asante A; Woldie M; Dawson A; Hayen A, 2023, 'Spatial patterns and inequalities in skilled birth attendance and caesarean delivery in sub-Saharan Africa', Population Medicine, 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.18332/popmed/164889
    Journal articles | 2023
    Bobo FT; Asante A; Woldie M; Dawson A; Hayen A, 2023, 'Evaluating equity across the continuum of care for maternal health services: analysis of national health surveys from 25 sub-Saharan African countries', International Journal for Equity in Health, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-02047-6
    Journal articles | 2023
    Fattah RA; Cheng Q; Thabrany H; Susilo D; Satrya A; Haemmerli M; Kosen S; Novitasari D; Puteri GC; Adawiyah E; Hayen A; Gilson L; Mills A; Tangcharoensathien V; Jan S; Asante A; Wiseman V, 2023, 'Incidence of catastrophic health spending in Indonesia: insights from a Household Panel Study 2018–2019', International Journal for Equity in Health, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-01980-w
    Journal articles | 2022
    Addo IY; Brener L; Asante AD; de Wit J, 2022, 'Moderating Effects of Socio-Demographic Factors in Associations Between Acculturation and Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviours: a Study of Australian Residents Born in Sub-Saharan Africa', Journal of International Migration and Integration, 23, pp. 2195 - 2217, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12134-021-00930-1
    Journal articles | 2022
    Bobo FT; Asante A; Woldie M; Dawson A; Hayen A, 2022, 'Child vaccination in sub-Saharan Africa: Increasing coverage addresses inequalities', Vaccine, 40, pp. 141 - 150, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.005
    Journal articles | 2022
    Cheng Q; Asante A; Susilo D; Satrya A; Man N; Fattah RA; Haemmerli M; Kosen S; Novitasari D; Puteri GC; Adawiyah E; Hayen A; Gilson L; Mills A; Tangcharoensathien V; Jan S; Thabrany H; Wiseman V, 2022, 'Equity of health financing in Indonesia: A 5-year financing incidence analysis (2015–2019)', The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, 21, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lanwpc.2022.100400
    Journal articles | 2022
    Haemmerli M; Asante A; Susilo D; Satrya A; Fattah RA; Cheng Q; Kosen S; Novitasari D; Puteri GC; Adawiyah E; Hayen A; Gilson L; Mills A; Tangcharoensathien V; Jan S; Thabrany H; Wiseman V, 2022, 'Using measures of quality of care to assess equity in health care funding for primary care: analysis of Indonesian household data', BMC Health Services Research, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08739-z
    Journal articles | 2022
    Otim ME; Omagino EK; Almarzouqi A; Rahman SA; Asante AD, 2022, 'Exclusive breast-feeding in the first six months: Findings from a cross-sectional survey in mulago hospital, uganda', African Health Sciences, 22, pp. 534 - 544, http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v22i2.62
    Journal articles | 2021
    Bobo FT; Asante A; Woldie M; Dawson A; Hayen A, 2021, 'Spatial patterns and inequalities in skilled birth attendance and caesarean delivery in sub-Saharan Africa', BMJ Global Health, 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-007074
    Journal articles | 2021
    Bobo FT; Asante A; Woldie M; Hayen A, 2021, 'Poor coverage and quality for poor women: Inequalities in quality antenatal care in nine East African countries', Health Policy and Planning, 36, pp. 662 - 672, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czaa192
    Journal articles | 2021
    Tekle Bobo F; Asante A; Woldie M; Hayen A, 2021, 'Erratum to: poor coverage and quality for poor women: inequalities in quality antenatal care in nine East African countries', Health policy and planning, 36, pp. 996, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czab055
    Journal articles | 2020
    Asante A; Man N; Wiseman V, 2020, 'Evaluating Equity in Health Financing Using Benefit Incidence Analysis: A Framework for Accounting for Quality of Care', Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 18, pp. 759 - 766, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40258-020-00597-2
    Journal articles | 2020
    Asante A; Wasike WSK; Ataguba JE, 2020, 'Health Financing in Sub-Saharan Africa: From Analytical Frameworks to Empirical Evaluation', Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 18, pp. 743 - 746, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40258-020-00618-0
    Journal articles | 2020
    Asante AD; Ir P; Jacobs B; Supon L; Liverani M; Hayen A; Jan S; Wiseman V, 2020, 'Erratum: Who benefits from healthcare spending in Cambodia? Evidence for a universal health coverage policy', Health policy and planning, 35, pp. 888, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czaa037
    Journal articles | 2020
    Liverani M; Ir P; Jacobs B; Asante A; Jan S; Leang S; Man N; Hayen A; Wiseman V, 2020, 'Cross-border medical travels from Cambodia: Pathways to care, associated costs and equity implications', Health Policy and Planning, 35, pp. 1011 - 1020, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czaa061
    Journal articles | 2019
    Addo IY; Brener L; Asante AD; de Wit J, 2019, 'Associations of post-migration dietary and physical activity behaviours with acculturation and social cognitive factors: A cross-sectional study of Australian residents born in sub-Saharan Africa', Journal of Ethnic Foods, 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s42779-019-0039-x
    Journal articles | 2019
    Addo IY; Brener L; Asante AD; de Wit J, 2019, 'Determinants of post-migration changes in dietary and physical activity behaviours and implications for health promotion: Evidence from Australian residents of sub-Saharan African ancestry', Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 30, pp. 62 - 71, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hpja.233
    Journal articles | 2019
    Addo IY; Brener L; Asante AD; de Wit J, 2019, 'Socio-cultural beliefs about an ideal body size and implications for risk of excess weight gain after immigration: a study of Australian residents of sub-Saharan African ancestry', Ethnicity and Health, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2019.1607261
    Journal articles | 2019
    Asante AD; Ir P; Jacobs B; Supon L; Liverani M; Hayen A; Jan S; Wiseman V, 2019, 'Who benefits from healthcare spending in Cambodia? Evidence for a universal health coverage policy', Health Policy and Planning, 34, pp. i4 - i13, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czz011
    Journal articles | 2019
    Asante AD; Jacobs B; Wiseman V, 2019, 'Transforming health systems financing in Lower Mekong: Making sure the poor are not left behind', Health Policy and Planning, 34, pp. i1 - i3, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czz098
    Journal articles | 2019
    Hall JJ; Ambang T; Asante A; Mapira P; Craig A; Schuele E; Pervaz Iqbal M, 2019, 'Poliomyelitis outbreak in Papua New Guinea: health system and health security implications for PNG and Australia', Medical Journal of Australia, 211, pp. 161 - 162.e1, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.50283
    Journal articles | 2019
    Ir P; Jacobs B; Asante AD; Liverani M; Jan S; Chhim S; Wiseman V, 2019, 'Exploring the determinants of distress health financing in Cambodia', Health Policy and Planning, 34, pp. i26 - i37, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czz006
    Journal articles | 2018
    Ataguba JE; Asante AD; Limwattananon S; Wiseman V, 2018, 'How to do (or not to do) ... a health financing incidence analysis', Health Policy and Planning, 33, pp. 436 - 444, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czx188
    Journal articles | 2018
    Guinness L; Paul RC; Martins JS; Asante A; Price J; Hayen A; Wiseman V; Jan S; Soares A, 2018, 'Determinants of health care utilisation: the case of Timor-Leste.', International Health, 10, pp. 412 - 420, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/ihy044
    Journal articles | 2018
    Wiseman V; Thabrany H; Asante A; Haemmerli M; Kosen S; Gilson L; Patcharanarumol W, 2018, 'An evaluation of health systems equity in Indonesia: study protocol', International Journal for Equity in Health
    Journal articles | 2017
    Asante AD; Irava W; Limwattananon S; Hayen A; Martins J; Guinness L; Ataguba JE; Price J; Jan S; Mills A; Wiseman V, 2017, 'Financing for universal health coverage in small island states: Evidence from the Fiji Islands', BMJ Global Health, 2, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000200
    Journal articles | 2017
    Wiseman V; Asante A; Ir P; Limwattananon S; Jacobs B; Liverani M; Hayen A; Jan S, 2017, 'System-wide analysis of health financing equity in Cambodia: A study protocol', BMJ Global Health, 2, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2016-000153
    Journal articles | 2016
    Asante A; Price J; Hayen A; Jan S; Wiseman V, 2016, 'Equity In Health care financing in low-and middle-income countries: A systematic review of evidence from studies using benefit and financing incidence analyses', PLoS ONE, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0152866
    Journal articles | 2016
    Hou X; Asante A, 2016, 'Turning Challenges into Opportunities', , http://dx.doi.org/10.1596/25785
    Journal articles | 2016
    Otim ME; Asante AD; Kelaher M; Anderson IP; Jan S, 2016, 'Acceptability of programme budgeting and marginal analysis as a tool for routine priority setting in Indigenous health', The International journal of health planning and management, 31, pp. 277 - 295, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hpm.2287
    Journal articles | 2016
    Price JA; Guinness L; Irava W; Khan I; Asante A; Wiseman V, 2016, 'How to do (or not to do) ⋯ translation of national health accounts data to evidence for policy making in a low resourced setting', Health Policy and Planning, 31, pp. 472 - 481, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czv089
    Journal articles | 2016
    Price JA; Soares AIFS; Asante AD; Martins JS; Williams K; Wiseman VL, 2016, '"I go I die, I stay I die, better to stay and die in my house": understanding the barriers to accessing health care in Timor-Leste', BMC Health Services Research, 16, pp. 1 - 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1762-2
    Journal articles | 2015
    Asante A; Iljanto S; Rule J; Doyle J, 2015, 'Do district health systems perform differently because of their managers? Preliminary insights from Indonesia', HEALTHCARE IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS, 3, http://dx.doi.org/10.4081/hls.2015.4471
    Journal articles | 2015
    Otim ME; Asante AD; Kelaher M; Doran CM; Anderson IP, 2015, 'What constitutes benefit from health care interventions for Indigenous Australians?', Australian Aboriginal Studies, pp. 30 - 42
    Journal articles | 2015
    Wiseman V; Asante A; Price J; Hayen A; Irava W; Martins J; Guinness L; Jan S, 2015, 'Ten best resources for conducting financing and benefit incidence analysis in resource-poor settings', Health Policy and Planning, 30, pp. 1053 - 1058, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czu108
    Journal articles | 2014
    Asante AD; Dewdney J; Martins N; Otim ME, 2014, 'Retaining doctors in rural Timor-Leste: A critical appraisal of opportunities and challenges.', Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 92, pp. 277 - 282, http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.13.123141
    Journal articles | 2014
    Asante AD; Price J; Hayen A; Irava W; Martins J; Guinness L; Ataguba JE; Limwattananon S; Mills A; Jan S; Wiseman V, 2014, 'Assessment of equity in healthcare financing in Fiji and Timor-Leste: A study protocol', BMJ Open, 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006806
    Journal articles | 2013
    Rule J; Ngo DA; Oanh TTM; Asante A; Doyle J; Roberts G; Taylor R, 2013, 'Strengthening primary health care in low- and middle-income countries: Generating evidence through evaluation', Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health, 26, pp. 339 - 348, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1010539513503869
    Journal articles | 2012
    Asante AD; Korner H, 2012, 'Knowledge and access are not enough: HIV risk and prevention among people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Sydney', Medical Journal of Australia, 196, pp. 502, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja11.11342
    Journal articles | 2012
    Asante AD; Körner H, 2012, 'Knowledge and access are not enough: Hiv risk and prevention among people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in sydney: To the Editor', Medical Journal of Australia, 196, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja11.11342
    Journal articles | 2012
    Asante AD; Negin J; Hall JJ; Dewdney J; Zwi A, 2012, 'Analysis of policy implications and challenges of the Cuban health assistance program related to human resources for health in the Pacific', Human Resources for Health, 10, http://www.human-resources-health.com/content/10/1/10
    Journal articles | 2011
    Asante A; Roberts G; Hall JJ, 2011, 'A Review of Health Leadership and Management Capacity in Solomon Islands',
    Journal articles | 2011
    Asante AD; Korner H, 2011, 'Perceptions of HIV risk and protection among people from CALD backgrounds in Sydney: findings from CALD periodic survey and the late diagnosis study', HIV Australia, 9, pp. 27 - 29, http://www.afao.org.au/library/hiv-australia/volume-9/number-2
    Journal articles | 2009
    Asante AD; Zwi A, 2009, 'Factors influencing resource allocation decisions and equity in the health system of Ghana', Public Health, 123, pp. 371 - 377, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2009.02.006
    Journal articles | 2007
    Asante AD; Zwi A, 2007, 'Public-private partnerships and global health equity: Prospects and challenges', Indian Journal of Medical Ethics, 4, pp. 176 - 180
    Journal articles | 2007
    Asante AD, 2007, 'Scaling up HIV prevention: Why routine or mandatory testing is not feasible for sub-Saharan Africa', Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85, pp. 644 - 646
    Journal articles | 2006
    Asante AD; Zwi A; Ho MT, 2006, 'Equity in resource allocation in health: A comparative Study of the Ashanti and Northern Regions of Ghana', Health Policy, 78, pp. 135 - 148
    Journal articles | 2006
    Asante AD; Zwi A; Ho MT, 2006, 'Getting on by credit: how district health managers in Ghana cope with the untimely release of funds', BMC Health Services Research, 6, pp. 105 - 113
    Journal articles | 2004
    Asante AD, 2004, 'Fatal indifference: The G8, Africa and global health', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 28, pp. 497 - 497
  • Conference Abstracts | 2016
    Ashraf MM; Hinchcliff R; Agaliotis M; Narasimhan P; Pardosi J; Asante A; Harrison R; Heslop D; Meyer L; Balasooriya C, 2016, 'The role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in Health Management education: a global perspective', Sydney, presented at 10th annual Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU) Global Health Program Workshop, Sydney, 28 October 2016 - 01 October 2016
    Reports | 2015
    Asante AD; Price J; Hayen A; Irava W; Wiseman V, 2015, Health Financing Equity and Universal Coverage in Fiji - SHIFT Summary Report, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW, Sydney Australia
    Reports | 2015
    Wiseman VL; Asante A; Hayen A; Ir P; Bart J; Liverani M; Jan S; Guiness L, 2015, A System Wide Analysis of Health Financing Equity in Cambodia, https://sphcm.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/sphcm/Centres_and_Units/Health-financing-policy-brief.pdf
    Reports | 2014
    Asante A; Wiseman VL, 2014, Relationship between health and economic growth. Report prepared for the Health Resource Facility, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australian Aid). Canberra
    Reports | 2014
    Wiseman VL; Asante A, 2014, Economic case for investing in health systems strengthening. Report prepared for the Health Resource Facility
    Reports | 2013
    Wiseman VL; Jan S; Hayen A; Irava W; Martins J; Asante A; Price J; Guinness L, 2013, Sustainable Health Financing in Fiji and Timor-Leste (SHIFT Study). Policy Brief August 2013, https://research.unsw.edu.au/sites/all/files/facultyadmin/shift_adras_policybrief.pdf
    Reports | 2011
    Asante AD; Hall J; Roberts G, 2011, A review of health leadership and management capacity in Cambodia, Human Resources for Health Knowledge Hub, UNSW, Sydney Australia, 97807334 (pbk).
    Reports | 2011
    Asante AD; Hall J; Roberts G, 2011, A review of health leadership and management capacity in Timor-Leste, Human Resources for Health Knowledge Hub, UNSW, Sydney Australia
    Reports | 2011
    Asante AD; Hall J; Roberts G, 2011, Strengthening supportive supervision at the district level in the Pacific - Policy Brief, Human Resources for Health Knowledge Hub, UNSW, Sydney Australia
    Reports | 2011
    Asante AD; Robert G; Hall J, 2011, A review of health leadership and management capacity in Solomon Islands, Human Resources for Health Knowledge Hub, UNSW, Sydney Australia, 9780733430350 (pbk).
    Reports | 2011
    Asante AD; Roberts G; Hall J, 2011, A review of health leadership and management capacity in Fiji, Human Resources for Health Knowledge Hub, UNSW, Sydney Australia, 97807334 (pbk).
    Reports | 2011
    Doyle J; Asante A; Roberts G, 2011, Human Resources for Health: Issues and Challenges in 13 Pacific Island Countries, Sydney, http://www.hrhhub.unsw.edu.au/
    Reports | 2009
    Asante AD; Korner H; Kippax SC, 2009, Understanding late HIV diagnosis among people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, M7/2009, http://nchsr.arts.unsw.edu.au/media/File/1_CALDperiodicsurvey.pdf
    Reports | 2009
    Asante AD; Körner H; Kippax S, 2009, Periodic Survey of HIV knowledge, perceptions and use of health services among people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in New South Wales, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
    Reports | 2009
    Dewdney J; Martins J; Asante A; Zwi A, 2009, Strengthening Human Resources for Health in Timor-Leste: Progress, Challenges and Ways Forward, World Bank, Timor-Leste, Dili, Timor-Leste