Table 1.
Trend of NHRS development in the WHO African Region
| 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) |