Zambia – National Health Research System (NHRS) Brief
Key Historical Milestones
• 1992 - The Ministry of Health (MoH), in response to global vision of Health for All by the Year 2000, introduces significant health reforms. These reforms outlined the role of research in helping to address some of the health problems of the country.
• 1997 – Formulation of the Science and Technology Act No. 26 which provides the overarching framework for research in the country and creates the National Council of Science and Technology (NCST).
• 1998 – Creation of the National Health Research Advisory Committee (NHRAC), under the Central Board of Health (CBoH) and setting up of a praticipatory process for the development of the Zambian National Health Research Agenda led by the CBoH.
• 1999 - The NHRAC sets national health research priority areas which have not been updated.
• 2000 – Zambia Consultative Process for the preparation of the International Conference on Health Research for Development taken place in Bangkok, Thailand. Lead by the ENHR National Focal Point (NFP) and data collection and analysis conducted by national research institutions.
• 2003 – First National Health Research Conference taking place every two years ever since.
• 2005 - Formulation of the National Health Strategic Plan (2006 – 2010).
• 2007 – Formulation of the Fith National Development Plan (FNDP) (2007-2011).
Key Historical Milestones
• 1992 - The Ministry of Health (MoH), in response to global vision of Health for All by the Year 2000, introduces significant health reforms. These reforms outlined the role of research in helping to address some of the health problems of the country.
• 1997 – Formulation of the Science and Technology Act No. 26 which provides the overarching framework for research in the country and creates the National Council of Science and Technology (NCST).
• 1998 – Creation of the National Health Research Advisory Committee (NHRAC), under the Central Board of Health (CBoH) and setting up of a praticipatory process for the development of the Zambian National Health Research Agenda led by the CBoH.
• 1999 - The NHRAC sets national health research priority areas which have not been updated.
• 2000 – Zambia Consultative Process for the preparation of the International Conference on Health Research for Development taken place in Bangkok, Thailand. Lead by the ENHR National Focal Point (NFP) and data collection and analysis conducted by national research institutions.
• 2003 – First National Health Research Conference taking place every two years ever since.
• 2005 - Formulation of the National Health Strategic Plan (2006 – 2010).
• 2007 – Formulation of the Fith National Development Plan (FNDP) (2007-2011).
- Formulation of the National Health Research Policy draft by the NHRAC.
• 2008 - Formulation of the National Health Research Strategic Plan (2008-2011) through a participatory and inclusive process.
• 2009 – Consultative process for the establishment of the Health Research Coordinating Body .
Sources:
-Report on the Zambian Consultative Process for the International Conference on Health Research for Development Prepared by the National Team for the Zambian Consultative Process, 2000
Governance and management of the NHRS system
Two ministries are involved in the governance and management of health research in Zambia: 1) the Ministry of Science, Technology and Vocational Training (MSTVT) which, through the National Council of Science and Technology (NCST), is the statutory body that oversees all research in the country, and 2) the Ministry of Health through the National Health Research Advisory Committee (NHRAC).
The NCST mission is to enhance Zambia’s capacity for scientific research and technological development, in order to create wealth and improve the quality of life. NCST membership is drawn from various institutions, including the MoH. Since the health sector does not have a system that coordinates and regulates health-specific research activities, one of the NCST’s mandates is the coordination and regulation of health research in the country. Nevertheless, the government has made efforts to prioritise health research with the establishment of the NHRAC.
The NHRAC consists of members drawn from various research institutions. It’s terms of reference includes advising the Minister of Health on how health research could be better conducted in the country, leading priority setting, handling communication related to health research, and building MoH capacity in the use of research findings. NHARC has played a crucial role in setting priorities on behalf of Government, and promoting conduct of research on the priorities. However, it still needs to be strengthened in order to, for example, be able to make sure that the research funded with external funds be aligned to national priorities. Regarding health research findings dissemination, the NHRAC has instituted bi-annual National Health Research Scientific Conferences to look at what research has been done and determine what else needs to be undertaken, and to share information between different health research stakeholders. This has helped improve communication on health research.
In order for the NHRAC to ensure more effective operations, it needs to be strengthened, and a secretariat established. A body to specifically oversee and coordinate health research in the country is currently under development.
Sources:
-Alignment and Harmonization in Health Research AHA Study – Zambia Country Report, COHRED, 2008
-National Health Research Strategic Plan (2008-2011), Ministry of Health, Republic of Zambia, 2008
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