Govt still lacks numbers, skills in health research

THE Ministry of Health and Social Services has trained 70 health and social workers in Health Systems Research (HSR), but a gap still remains both in terms of numbers and skills.

This is indicated in a Research Management Policy launched recently by the Ministry. The policy states that the mission of the Health Ministry is to improve and maintain the physical and mental health and social well-being of all Namibians by providing effective, efficient and acceptable health and social welfare services, and this research policy fully supports that.The goal of the policy is to contribute to the further improvement of the Namibian health and social welfare system by ensuring the treatment and management of patients, clients, families and communities.The fundamental principle underlying this policy is the statement on research in 1998 termed ‘MOHSS Policy Framework’, according to which the Ministry recognises systems’ research as being increasingly important in the decision-making process.This policy reiterates that particular emphasis will, therefore, be placed on research that is closely linked to Namibian needs and is sensitive to the priority requirements of the country.- NampaThe policy states that the mission of the Health Ministry is to improve and maintain the physical and mental health and social well-being of all Namibians by providing effective, efficient and acceptable health and social welfare services, and this research policy fully supports that.The goal of the policy is to contribute to the further improvement of the Namibian health and social welfare system by ensuring the treatment and management of patients, clients, families and communities.The fundamental principle underlying this policy is the statement on research in 1998 termed ‘MOHSS Policy Framework’, according to which the Ministry recognises systems’ research as being increasingly important in the decision-making process.This policy reiterates that particular emphasis will, therefore, be placed on research that is closely linked to Namibian needs and is sensitive to the priority requirements of the country.- Nampa