The Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU) is committed to building stronger health and social-care systems in South Africa, Africa and globally through collaborative health-policy and systems research that promotes equity and transformation. Our research contributes to national, regional and international evidence-informed health and social policy decision-making and health systems with the aim of advancing Universal Health Coverage and Primary Health Care.  This involves multidisciplinary, intersectoral research across several areas of the health system (private-public sector, health facilities, schools, community) and along the life course. We have teams leading work with vulnerable populations – newborn, maternal and child health; sexual reproductive health; and in specific disciplines including social policy; health economics; evidence synthesis and knowledge translation.

We work in five thematic areas:

• Maternal, Newborn and Child Health: Understanding health system requirements for the optimal delivery of community and primary care services for women, newborns, and children​
• Social Protection for Child Health: Strengthening social protection interventions and policies to promote health and well-being of children and their caregivers​
• Health of Adolescents and Young People: Promoting universal health coverage for the sexual, reproductive and mental health and well-being of adolescents, their caregivers and young people​
• Health Economics: Using health economics analytic tools to contribute to decision-making about investments in health systems (including investments in human resources and health programmes, interventions and services)​
• Evidence Synthesis: Supporting evidence-informed decision making and learning health systems, and informing future research, through providing synthesized evidence and supporting the translation of this knowledge

We have expertise in a range of study designs, methodologies, and processes including: