Page 104 - SAMRC Annual Report 2023-24

Health Systems
Research Unit

Unit director:
Associate Prof. Tamara Kredo

Prioritising responsive research Adolescent girls and young women are a vulnerable
through impactful interventions population at high risk of HIV and unintended
pregnancy. Dr Kim Jonas leads the HERStory 3 study,
The Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU) research a national study evaluating the impact of the My
contributes to evidence-informed health and social Journey Programme – a combination HIV-prevention
policy decision-making with the aim of achieving intervention, merging biomedical, behavioural and
Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Primary Health structural interventions – key strategy for achieving
Care (PHC). We lead multi-disciplinary, intersectoral the Sustainable Development Goal to end the HIV
research across the health system (private-public epidemic by 2030. The evaluation includes 4800
sectors, health facilities, schools, community) and participants and will inform national policy.
along the life course. This year has seen projects
initiated and others progressing to inform key
insights into health systems nationally, regionally
and globally. We share some highlights here.
The National Health Insurance (NHI Bill) currently
awaits final presidential sign-off. Health system
financing is complex given South Africa's two-
tiered public-private sector, the inequitable share
of funding in the public sector and inefficiencies in
both sectors. Dr Geetesh Solanki and colleagues
produced a paper entitled ‘'South African Health
Care Reforms towards Universal Health Care-
Where to next” providing advice on the need
for health-system strengthening regardless of
financing mechanisms.

Professor Tanya Doherty leads the UKMRC-funded
STAR study, a collaboration with UKZN and LSHTM.
Researchers partnered with healthcare workers in
maternity units in nine rural district hospitals for
local problem-solving and intervention design to
strengthen respectful care for women and newborns.
Baseline research identified stark challenges in
delivering respectful care for mothers and nurses.
A multi-disciplinary team developed a toolkit and
trained champions from each hospital to facilitate The Motherload exhibition held in
sessions designed to impact on person-centred care Cape Town – Nov 2023.
and organisational culture.

102 SAMRC ANNUAL REPOR T 2023-24