Despite the important role that purchasing plays in health systems performance, there is very limited empirical work on purchasing arrangements in LMICs. The RESYST (Resilient and Responsive Health Systems) consortium, in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (APO), undertook a multi-country study to critically examine how purchasing mechanisms are functioning in a range of LMICs from a strategic purchasing perspective; and contribute to filling gaps in the literature relating to purchasing arrangements.