Table 1.

Time horizons for decision-making in the health sector [82]

Investment 2–5 decades	Carbon emissions mitigation strategies
	Malaria eradication strategies
	Major infrastructure investment
	Workforce development
Strategic planning 6–20 years	Research and development of medical countermeasures (e.g., drugs, vaccines) and vector control tools (e.g., new insecticides)
	Improving the nutritional content of crops
	Health facility investments
	Curriculum development
Policy cycles 2–5 years	4- to 5-year political cycle
	Health service re-organization
	2- to 5-year research grant cycle
Planning cycles < 2yrs	Annual planning and commissioning cycle
	Demand for visible ‘quick wins’ from funders
Seasonal preparedness and response < 4 months	Seasonal planning cycle
	Epidemic/disaster preparedness and response
Weekly facility management < 1 week	Weather disaster preparedness and response
	Patient scheduling for non-urgent cases