Page 5 - SAMRC Strategic Plan

ACCOUNTING

OFFICER STATEMENT

The strategic direction of the South African Medical point where it was classified by the World Health
Research Council (SAMRC) is guided by the SAMRC Organization in May 2023 to no longer constitute
Act No. 58 of 1991 (SAMRC Act), which gives a public health emergency cannot be overlooked.
a mandate to the SAMRC to through research, For this strategic plan 2025/26 -2029/30, the
development and technology transfer, promote the SAMRC has taken stock of the lessons learned from
improvement of the health and the quality of life of the COVID-19 pandemic, to remain alert and be
the population of the Republic and to perform other prepared to respond to the spread of potentially
such functions as may be assigned to the SAMRC dangerous emerging infectious diseases. The
by or under this Act. The Act further sets out the resources invested, teamwork and solidarity that
functions, powers and duties of the SAMRC. came into play during the height of the pandemic
should continue and will be key to future pandemic
The year 2024 marked the last year of the SAMRC preparedness and response.
strategic planning period 2020/21– 2024/25 and
coincided with 30 years since the historic and The immediate past SAMRC President and CEO,
democratic election of 27 April 1994. The SAMRC Professor Glenda Gray, has been instrumental in
has played a significant role in addressing many of the implementation of our 2015/16-2019/20 and
the key strategic issues in medical research, research 2020/21 – 2024/25 strategic plans. Fast tracking
ethics, research integrity and corporate governance transformation in the organization, science and
over the past 30 years, particularly within the science leadership, remained integral parts of the
context of South Africa and the African continent, SAMRC’s strategies under Prof. Gray’s leadership
and within the context of the SAMRC Act. SAMRC tenure. A ten-year review of Transformation at the
has been involved in various research initiatives, SAMRC is showing major demographic shifts toward
collaborations, and studies related to these strategic equity across a range of intramural and extramural
issues. Some of those strategic issues include: (a) measures. The term of Prof. Gray as the SAMRC
conduct research on South Africa’s quadruple burden President and CEO ended on 30 June 2024, and we
of disease: maternal, newborn and child health, HIV/ thanked her for the sterling work that she performed
AIDS and TB, non-communicable diseases, and during her ten years as the leader of the SAMRC.
interpersonal violence, (b) Research into the South
African mortality rate which leads to the production Professor Ntobeko Ntusi was appointed as the new
of an annual Rapid Mortality Surveillance Report, (c) SAMRC President and CEO, effective 1 July 2024.
fostering conduct of research within the legal and A distinguished and highly respected figure in the
ethical framework and with integrity, (d) conduct medical community, Prof. Ntusi brings a wealth of
of research and promoting research integrity, expertise and leadership to his new role. His lifelong
(e) building the next generation of scientists, (f) passion for evidence-based healthcare, health
transformation in research and organisational systems research, and universal health coverage has
personnel, (g) translation of research into policy and positioned him as a trailblazer in medical research.
practice, and (h) excellence in its fiscal discipline Prof. Ntusi's commitment to advancing medical
and effective corporate governance characterised research and his passion for improving healthcare
by multiyear clean audits. These strategic issues outcomes align perfectly with the SAMRC's mission
have been critical in advancing medical research, to advance the nation’s health and quality of life
healthcare and research management in the region. and to address inequity by conducting and funding
relevant and responsive health research, capacity
The critical role that SAMRC played from the development, innovation, and research translation.
beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and up to a Prof. Ntusi will be responsible for implementing the

4 SAMRC STRATEGIC PLAN 2025/26 – 2029/30