Page 26 - SAMRC Strategic Plan

an integrated national strategy for health research; communities – all should be strengthened to
to coordinate the research activities of public health advance research for health.
authorities; and to identify and advise the Minister (f) The direct and indirect effects of COVID-19,
on health research priorities. amongst others, compounded the burden of
NCDs, contributed to loss of gains made in
The NHRC hosted a National Health Research reduction of maternal mortality, exacerbated
Summit in 2022 with the aim of reviewing the GBV and expanded the depth of mental ill-health.
country’s National Health Research System (NHRS); Hence research on both the direct biological
evaluating lessons learned from COVID-19; as effects of infectious agents and their indirect
well as assessing progress related to finances, impact on health systems requires emphasis,
human and infrastructural resources, priority- within and beyond pandemics.
setting, monitoring and evaluation for research for (g) In addition to research on health system
health, including research translation and ethical resilience, strengthening and preparedness for
frameworks. Furthermore, the summit evaluated current and future pandemics (infectious and non-
progress made in aligning the country’s research and communicable), research aimed at discerning the
health status to critical international and national extent of the human toll in a pandemic, social
aspirations and strategic goals, including SDG 3 on drivers and human behavior contributing to ill-
health and wellness, the NDP 2030, the Presidential health as well as underlying psychosocial drivers
Health Compact 2018, the MTSF (2019 – 2024) and for vaccine hesitancy remains lacking.
the National Department of Health Strategic Plan (h) Research related to infectious, respiratory,
(2020/2021 – 2024/2025). The summit made the nutritional conditions as well as SIDS and injury
following recommendations: should be prioritised to reduce under five-year
(a) Ongoing advances in research for health should childhood mortality, whereas research on mental
incorporate and embrace advances in technology, conditions and substance abuse should be areas
digital health and the fourth industrial revolution of additional focus for older children.
(4IR). (i) There is a need to reinforce research on the
(b) The implementation of UHC and NHI as its behavioral science and psychosocial aspects
funding mechanism should be informed and underlying the abuse of alcohol, drugs, and
underpinned by research in implementation other intoxicating substances as they contribute
science, epidemiological trends as well as social to the burden of violence and injury – including
and structural determinants of health. homicide, road traffic accidents and GBV - to
(c) Investments in basic science research, innovation, inform and fortify policies for prevention of
manufacturing of diagnostics, therapeutics and morbidity and mortality related to violence and
vaccines – including capacity development and injuries.
discovery research to drive them are critical (j) Research to inform implementation of the NHI,
going forward. the funding model for attainment of UHC, should
(d) Investments in national genomic and include amongst others, revenue collection for
epidemiological surveillance systems and the NHI Fund, enumeration of PHC personal
scientific modelling, are necessary in the care cost and exploration of funding models
planning, management, and resource allocation for Contracting Unit for Primary Services
for current infectious and non-infectious threats, (CUPS). Strengthening district and subdistrict
as well as future pandemics. level research and governance should include
(e) The pandemic highlighted the necessity to formalisation of district and sub-district learning
strengthen collaborative partnerships at national partnerships (e.g. between researchers, HEIs
and global level-including the WHO, local and and policy makers) as well as implementing DHS
international funders, universities and HEIs, PPPs, ‘literacy’ and capacity development. Further,
mobile companies, civil society, and research addressing community engagement, social and

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