Page 110 - SAMRC AnnualReport 2025-26

HEALTH SYSTEMS
RESEARCH
PROGRAMME 4 STRENGTHENING
PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAMME
To contribute to health systems
strengthening by undertaking systematic
reviews, health policy and health
systems research to provide evidence
for policymakers, stakeholders and
researchers seeking to address today’s
most pressing health challenges. The
programme aims to take advantage of
information and technology by exploring
and expanding the role of eHealth (health
informatics, digital health, tile health,
telemedicine, eLearning and mobile
health) in strengthening health systems.
UNITS THAT CONSTITUTE THIS PROGRAMME
Biostatistics Research Unit (IRU)
Burden of Disease Research Unit (IRU)
Cochrane South Africa (IRU)
Health Services to Systems Research
Unit (ERU)
Health Systems Research Unit (IRU)
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PROGRAMME STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
To contribute towards the evidence base
for national, regional and international
health-care decision making by conducting
high-quality systematic reviews, and health
systems and health policy research reviews
to improve health systems effectiveness
To strengthen research and development
through training and mentoring
postgraduate students (MSc, PhD,
Postdoctoral Fellows) in eHealth, health
policy, health systems research and
biostatistics
To contribute to capacity development
and training in the use and conduct of
systematic reviews, and support of clinical
trial registration for the African region
To synthesise evidence, optimise
information and knowledge flow through
ICT and other means to ensure that
research results are translated into policy,
practice, cost-effective products and health
promotion
To develop and enhance health information
systems and surveillance through
systematic evaluation and identification of
processes for improvement
To provide statistical analysis to ensure
scientific validity, relevance and efficiency
of health systems interventions and/or
service delivery models, and engage in
health systems strengthening activities
To carry out bio-statistical support training
projects to assist SAMRC researchers and
postgraduate students within the SAMRC