Transcript Slide 1
WHO Strategy on Research for Health World Health Editors’ Network, 16-17, Geneva Charles A. Gardner, Ph.D. Content • History of the WHO’s role in research • WHO Strategy on Research for Health (WHA agenda item 11.19) • What they need to do to get this right WHO core functions WHO role in research Producer of... User of... Communicator Origins of the strategy 1948: Article 2 of the WHO Constitution “...to promote and conduct research in the field of health” 1949: 2nd World Health Assembly “Research and coordination of research are essential functions of the World Health Organization.” Origins of the strategy 1955: Malaria Eradication Programme FAILURE: “...the only thing it eradicating was malariologists” 1958: Smallpox Eradication Programme SUCCESS: because of strong linkages between research and public health Origins of the strategy 1958: 11th World Health Assembly Requested the Director General (DG) to “prepare an intensified medical research programme” 1959: Advisory Committee on Health Research Created to advise the DG (originally ACMR) 1975: 28th World Health Assembly Requested the Director General to develop a comprehensive long-term WHO programme for the development and coordination of research Origins of the strategy Past “strategies” for WHO, produced by the ACHR: 1993: Research for Health: Principles, Perspectives and Strategies 2000: Research strategy to achieve health for all 2004: Global Ministerial Summit on Health Research 2005: 58th World Health Assembly Requested the Director General to “undertake an assessment of WHO’s internal resources, expertise and activities [to develop] a position paper on WHO’s role and responsibilities in the area of health research” and finally… 2007: 60th World Health Assembly Requested the Director-General “to submit to the Sixty-second World Health Assembly a strategy for the management and organization of research activities within WHO.” WHO Strategy on Research for Health Delayed Inclusive process to develop strategy • Process: 18 months (March 2007–September 2008); w/advice from ACHR and external reference group • Workshops, structured interviews, public forum: – within WHO HQ and regional offices – With governments, NGOs, R&D funding agencies, research institutions, civil society and industry – Web-based discussion platform New landscape: more actors Need to get research right WHO core functions 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) Providing leadership in health Shaping the research agenda Setting norms and standards Promoting evidence-based policies Providing technical support Monitoring the health situation because health equity is a priority Five goals of the new strategy Organization: strengthen the research culture across WHO Priorities: focus on research that responds to priority health needs Capacity: strengthen national health research systems Standards: promote good practice in research (norms and standards) Translation: strengthen links between policy, practice and products of research