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Table 1 Trend of NHRS development in the WHO African Region

From: National health research systems in the WHO African Region: current status and the way forward

Variable

Percentage of countries in the 2014 survey (n = 47) a

Percentage of countries in the 2009 survey [15] (n = 44) b

Percentage of countries in the 2003 survey [14] (n = 10) c

Governance of NHRS

   

Valid official national health policy

96 % (45/47)

90.7 % (39/43)

70 % (7/10)

Valid strategic health plan

94 % (44/47)

88.1 % (37/42)

80 % (8/10)

Official health research policy

49 % (23/47)

30.2 % (13/43)

30 % (3/10)

Law regulating R4H

40 % (19/47)

16 % (7/44)

10 % (1/10)

National strategic health research plan

47 % (22/47)

20.5 % (8/39)

20 % (2/10)

Functional national health research system

51 % (24/47)

40 % (16/40)

30 % (3/10)

National health research focal point

83 % (39/47)

76.2 % (32/42)

80 % (8/10)

National ethical review committee

91 % (43/47)

75 % (33/44)

60 % (6/10)

Creating and sustaining R4H resources

   

University/colleges of health sciences conducting research

93 % (41/44)

 

30 % (3/10)

National health research institute or council

55 % (26/47)

 

30 % (3/10)

Health research programme at MoH

51 % (24/47)

25 % (11/44)

20 % (2/10)

Average number of researchers in a R4H programme

20.9

 

7.5

Non-governmental organizations conducting R4H

65 % (30/46)

 

70 % (7/10)

Producing and utilizing R4H

   

R4H programme action plan

67 % (16/24)

(8/11)

20 % (2/10)

Existence of a knowledge translation platform

33 % (15/46)

 

30 % (3/10)

Existence of a health research management forum

51 % (24/47)

24.3 % (9/37)

20 % (2/10)

Financing R4H

   

Existence of a budget line in the health budget for research for health

47 % (22/47)

41 % (18/44)

40 % (4/10)

Progress towards the target of allocating 2 % of national health budget to R4H

17.6 % (3/17)

4.5 % (2/44)

0 % (0/10)

  1. NHRS, National health research systems; MoH, Ministry of Health; R4H, Research for Health.
  2. aCurrent survey.
  3. bMbondji et al. [15].
  4. cKirigia and Wambebe [14].
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Health Research Policy and Systems

ISSN: 1478-4505

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