2011 National Health Research Summit Report

The 2011 National Health Research Summit (Summit) was held in response to the legislative mandate of the National Health Research Committee (NHRC) to set priorities for health research, and to address the strategic priorities of the National Department of Health (DoH) and the Government of South Africa. The strategic focus of the DoH is the implementation of the 10 Point Plan for 2009 - 2014 health sector priorities, which includes ‘strengthening of research and development’ as its 10th priority. A major goal of the government in the Medium Term Strategic Framework for 2009 - 2014 is to achieve a long and healthy life for all South Africans. The Ministry of Health has entered into a Negotiated Service Delivery Agreement (NSDA) with other Ministries responsible for the social determinants of health and all 9 provincial Members of Executive Committees (MECs) for Health, to
improve the health outcomes of the population.
Objectives. The objectives of the Summit were to determine what was needed to ‘strengthen research, innovation and development’ and to achieve the health outcomes of the NSDA: (1) increasing life expectancy; (2) reducing maternal and child mortality rates; (3) combating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis; and (4) strengthening the effectiveness of the health system.