WHO Strategy on Research for HealthWorld 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...

Communica

tor

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.”

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 AssemblyRequested 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 AssemblyRequested 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 AssemblyRequested 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”

Origins of the strategy

2007: 60th World Health AssemblyRequested the Director-General “to submit to the Sixty-second World Health Assembly a strategy for the management and organization of research activities within WHO.”

and finally…

WHO Strategy on Research for Health

DelayedDelayed

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

1) Providing leadership in health

2) Shaping the research agenda

3) Setting norms and standards

4) Promoting evidence-based policies

5) Providing technical support6) Monitoring the health

situation

WHO core functions

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