
In my opinion, the four recommended actions proposed for public health professionals to tackle corruption are practical and provide good guidelines.
I agree with the idea of gathering key stakeholders in the health system to understand the scope and nature of corruption. This is an important step to raise awareness and build shared responsibility. Supporting and protecting individuals who dare to expose corruption is essential, so they can share information without fear. It is also important to ensure that their concerns are fairly considered and that they are properly protected.
I also agree with the recommendation to prioritize actions based on impact and feasibility. This helps allocate resources efficiently, focusing on the most harmful and solvable forms of corruption. However, I think we should not ignore corruption that is often seen as something minor and ongoing, such as using office hours for personal tasks or misusing workplace resources. These behaviors, though often seen as minor, can become normalized over time and lead to more significant corruption.
Regarding the third and fourth recommendation, addressing complex problems with a holistic approach, I agree that it is necessary. Although research on health sector corruption is often published in niche journals, laws, regulations, and codes of conduct already exist in many places. In terms of research, I have a slightly different view. I think fair and consistent enforcement of laws and regulations might already be sufficient, combined with collaborative multi-disciplinary efforts. However, having the idea to develop research plans and use technology tools, such as big data analysis and social network analysis, could help monitor, oversee, and prevent corruption effectively.