Assessing National Health Research Systems
The starting point for strengthening a country’s health research system is to have a clear picture of the current state of health research – and the areas where development should be targeted. COHRED works with countries to do NHRS assessments.
To date, assessments have been done in more than 50 countries. Many are now using the evidence they have collected to formulate policies, set priorities and improve governance. An overview of this work is provided below. Specific country information is provided under related resources.
Africa
Mapping studies of national health research systems in six countries in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia) as part of a study looking at the application of the Paris Declaration principles of Alignment and Harmonisation to health research (COHRED’s AHA study).
Additional modules were also developed to provide evidence on the steps taken by donor agencies and countries to put alignment and harmonisation into action in countries.
Central Asia
Support to Central Asian countries in their efforts to strengthen their health research systems. COHRED initiated mapping studies in three countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan). A separate study was done in Tajikistan. The information collected is being used to facilitate decision making to strengthen health research systems in the region.
Eastern Mediterranean
A partnership between COHRED, WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office and the Gulf Cooperation Council, was started in 2005 to strengthen the capacities of health research systems in the Eastern Mediterranean region. To inform these efforts a National Health Research System (NHRS) Mapping study was done with partners from ten countries in the region. The study identified gaps in NHRS governance and management in a number of participating countries. The results have been published in the Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal .
In partnership with WHO/EMRO, this work is currently expanded to eight other countries. Results will be made available on this webpage and on Health Research Web.
Latin America
In 2008, the Ministry of Health of Brazil (Department of Science and Technology) hosted the first Latin American Conference on Research and Innovation for Health.
The meeting was organised by COHRED, the Global Forum for Health Research, INSalud Mexico, the NicaSalud Network Federation, and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/World Health Organization (WHO).
Input to the discussions was provided in a series of papers prepared by country representatives, mapping their national health research systems. These papers followed the COHRED NHRS Mapping approach and contained additional information on patenting, financial resources and opportunities and challenges facing systems in the region.
Read more about this initiative:
Pacific Island Countries
A consultation on strengthening health research Capacity in the Pacific was held in Fiji in 2007. It was convened by the Western Pacific Regional Office of the World Health Organization and the Health Research Council of the Pacific (HRCP). Evidence to inform these discussions was based on results of mapping of health research systems in 15 Pacific Island countries, by the Fiji School of Medicine, the HRCP and COHRED.
Trinidad and Tobago
An NHRS Mapping study was done in 2006 by the Essential National Health Research Council of Trinidad and Tobago – with the Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Health, the Pan American Health Organization and COHRED. This initiative provided evidence to strengthen the national health research system and to promote the development and implementation of more evidence-based health policies, programs and practice.
Western Pacific
This partnership in 2006 developed and tested NHRS assessment methods for countries in the region. Partners were the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific, the Institute for Health Systems Research in Malaysia and COHRED, with Fudan University China, Ministry of Health Mongolia, the Philippine Council on Health Research and Development and the Hanoi School of Public Health Vietnam. The group did NHRS Mapping studies and more detailed NHRS Assessments – focused specific decision-making needs of participating countries. These efforts were informed by experiences of the National Institute of Public Health in Laos.
