Abstract
BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, in 1998, passed a resolution (AFR/RC48/R4) which urged its Member States in the Region to develop national research policies and strategies and to build national health research capacities, particularly through resource allocation, training of senior officials, strengthening of research institutions and establishment of coordination mechanisms.The purpose of this study was to take stock of some aspects of national resources for health research in the countries of the Region; identify current constraints facing national health research systems; and propose the way forward.MethodsA questionnaire was prepared and sent by pouch to all the 46 Member States in the WHO African Region through the WHO Country Representatives for facilitation and follow up. The health research focal person in each of the countries Ministry of Health (in consultation with other relevant health research bodies in the country) bore the responsibility for completing the questionnaire. The data were entered and analysed in Excel spreadsheet.ResultsThe key findings were as follows: the response rate was 21.7% (10/46); three countries had a health research policy; one country reported that it had a law relating to health research; two countries had a strategic health research plan; three countries reported that they had a functional national health research system (NHRS); two countries confirmed the existence of a functional national health research management forum (NHRMF); six countries had a functional ethical review committee (ERC); five countries had a scientific review committee (SRC); five countries reported the existence of health institutions with institutional review committees (IRC); two countries had a health research programme; and three countries had a national health research institute (NHRI) and a faculty of health sciences in the national university that conducted health research. Four out of the ten countries reported that they had a budget line for health research in the Ministry of Health budget document.ConclusionGovernments of countries of the African Region, with the support of development partners, private sector and civil society, urgently need to improve the research policy environment by developing health research policies, strategic plans, legislations, programmes and rolling plans with the involvement of all stakeholders, e.g., relevant sectors, research organizations, communities, industry and donors.In a nutshell, development of high-performing national health research systems in the countries of the WHO African Region, though optional, is an imperative. It may be the only way of breaking free from the current vicious cycle of ill-health and poverty.
Highlights
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, in 1998, passed a resolution (AFR/RC48/R4) which urged its Member States in the Region to develop national research policies and strategies and to build national health research capacities, through resource allocation, training of senior officials, strengthening of research institutions and establishment of coordination mechanisms.The purpose of this study was to take stock of some aspects of national resources for health research in the countries of the Region; identify current constraints facing national health research systems; and propose the way forward
Strategic health plan, health research policy, health research legislation and a strategic health research plan Table 1 presents the availability of a national health policy (NHP), a strategic health plan (SHP) and a health research policy (HRP) in ten sub-Saharan African countries
The key findings were as follows: the response rate was 21.7% (10/46); three countries had a health research policy; one country reported that it had a law relating to health research; two countries had a strategic health research plan; three countries reported to have a functional national health research system; two countries confirmed the existence of a functional national health research management forum; six countries had a functional ethical review committee; five countries had a scientific review committee; five countries reported the existence of health institutions with institutional review committees; two countries had a health research programme; and three countries had a national health research institute and a faculty of health sciences in the national university that conducted health research
Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, in 1998, passed a resolution (AFR/RC48/R4) which urged its Member States in the Region to develop national research policies and strategies and to build national health research capacities, through resource allocation, training of senior officials, strengthening of research institutions and establishment of coordination mechanisms.The purpose of this study was to take stock of some aspects of national resources for health research in the countries of the Region; identify current constraints facing national health research systems; and propose the way forward. The persistent crippling burden of disease can be attributed to many causes that include: weak national and district health systems; human resources for health crisis which has been exacerbated by internal and external brain drain; 47% of the population in the Region having no access to health services, and about 50% have no access to essential drugs [2]; about 59% of pregnant women delivering babies without the assistance of skilled health personnel [3]; 64% of the population lacking sustainable access to improved sanitation facilities and 42% lacking sustainable access to an improved water source [4]; outof-pocket expenditures constituting 51%-90% of the private health expenditure in 14 countries and 91%-100% in 24 countries [3]; 38.2% of the people in sub-Saharan Africa living below the international income poverty line of US$1 per day [5]; low investment in health development [3]; and poor governance [6] Those challenges are compounded by weak national health research systems (NHRS), which hinder the generation of new information and knowledge for diagnosing and providing solutions; monitoring of health system performance; development and production of new technologies and health products for tackling priority diseases and health conditions; and innovating ways of accessing and putting into effective nationwide use the existing costeffective promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and care interventions
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