Overview of national health research systems in sub-Saharan Africa: results of a questionnaire-based survey.

OBJECTIVE To assess the state of national health research systems of countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) African Region. DESIGN A questionnaire-based survey METHODS: Structured questionnaires were used to solicit health research systems' relevant information from key informants in each country. SETTING Forty-six Member States of the WHO African Region. PARTICIPANTS Key informants from the ministry of health in each country, with the support of WHO Country Offices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Presence of national health research policy or strategy, priority setting and ethical review of research. RESULTS Of the 44 responding countries, 39 (89%) reportedly had an official national health policy and 37 (84%) had a strategic health plan. A total of 16 (36%) countries reportedly had a functional national health research governance mechanism, nine of which had clear terms of reference; nine (20%) countries had a functional national health research management forum. Functional ethical review committees were reported in 33 countries (75%). CONCLUSIONS National health research systems were weak in the countries assessed. Significantly more resources should be allocated to strengthening these systems.