WELCOME TO NATIONAL HEALTH RESEARCH COMMITTEE

The National Health Research Committee (NHRC) is a statutory body established by the Minister of Health in terms of the National Health Act, 2003 (Act No. 61 of 2003), Section 69(1).

The National Health Research Committee must:

* Determine the Health research to be carried out by public health authorities
* Ensure that health research agendas and research resources focus on priority health problems
* Develop and advice the Minister on the application and implementation of an integrated national strategy for health research; and
* Coordinate the research activities of public health authorities.

Identification of Health Research Priorities (sc 70)

The National Health Research Committee must identify and advise the Minister on Health Research Priorities. In identifying Health research priorities the committee must have regard to: -

* the burden of disease;
* the cost-effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing the burden of disease;
* the availability of human and institutional resources for the implementation of intervention at level closest to the affected communities;
* the health needs of vulnerable groups such as woman, older persons, children and people with disabilities; and
* the health needs of communities.

Additional objectives

The National Health Research Committee aims to create a health research system that will improve the quality, impact, effectiveness and efficiency of research in the country. Efforts should be made to ensure equity by linking finances to national priorities, build research capacity, develop communication strategy for dissemination of information and promote innovation to improve competitiveness in health and health related service delivery.