Governance and Stewardship of National Health Research Systems

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Governance and Stewardship of National Health
Research Systems

• Analysis and synthesis of survey results
• Dr Erica Gadsby

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Stewardship knowing where you are going,
monitoring progress, and getting there safely
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Methods

• National level survey
• Questions on policies, legislation, plans,
  coordination mechanisms, etc.
• Responses from 43 countries
• Institutional level survey
• Mod 1000 questions on institutions history,
  sector, operational level, functions, leadership,
  etc.
• Mod 2000 questions on institutions types and
  approaches to research, their scientific review
  policies criteria, monitoring evaluation, and
  collaboration.
• Responses from up to 825 institutions in 44
  countries

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Analysis and limitations

• Basic descriptive and comparative analysis using
  SPSS.
• Analysis complicated/limited because
• Data entered as string rather than numeric
  variables, and not disaggregated
• Numerous gaps in the data (particularly in
  national survey)
• Questionnaire sometimes answered incorrectly
  (missed skip patterns, etc.)

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Stewardship and the health research system
Priorities
Vision
Ethical standards
Monitoring evaluation
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Articulating a vision for health research
Three quarters of those without an existing
health research policy expressed interest in
developing one this indicates a lack of
capacity, rather than willingness!
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Prioritising health research
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Ethical standards
35 of countries have hospitals with ERCs to
review all clinical research proposals 22 of
institutions have written criteria for scientific
review of proposals that address ethical review
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Monitoring and evaluating the NHRS
43 of institutions have explicit or written
requirement for the institution to undergo
independent evaluation 29 of institutions have
SRC that meets regularly
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A rich and varied research culture
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Conclusions

• In many countries, there is no formal,
  articulated vision for health research
  policies, plans and strategies are frequently
  either absent or out of date.
• Absence of official health research policies in
  many countries means most will not have
  identified health research priorities.
  Stakeholder collaboration in policy development
  is rare.
• The setting and monitoring of ethical standards
  appears to be a woefully neglected function.
• Monitoring and evaluation is also neglected, both
  at country level and institutional level.
• The broad range types of research institutions,
  and of the research activities they contribute
  to, shows a good basis for the strengthening of
  research capacity in the African region.