At the 2015 World Health Assembly, Precious Matsoso, Director-General of the National Department of Health of South Africa, formally announced that South Africa would make a first financial contribution to the work of the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, through the South African Medical Research Council. This investment is a signal of growing interest, among middle-income countries, of the importance and value of health systems research in building resilient health systems – the overarching theme of this year`s Assembly.
The South African government has been a champion in promoting the generation and use of health policy and systems research nationally – and globally – for many years. Ms Matsoso herself has played a major role, not least as a member of the advisory group for the WHO Strategy on Health Policy and Systems Research (2012). Since the launch of that strategy, South Africa has further strengthened its commitment to health systems research; an example is its hosting of the Third Global Symposium on Health Systems Research in Cape Town in 2014.
The new contribution to the Alliance recognizes the critical role of health policy and systems research in strengthening health systems. The recent Ebola crisis and the approaching transition towards the Sustainable Development Goals have underlined the need for health systems that have the capacity to learn and adapt to changing contexts. This is a fundamental principle in the Alliance’s work.
Ms Matsoso’s announcement demonstrated the confidence placed by her government in the Alliance and in its role as a global leader in the field. "We have long believed in the Alliance's approach of bringing together all relevant groups to study what is needed for a population's health to improve. Those who take the decisions at district or community level -- just as at national level -- need to be involved in the research, in the search for evidence and answers. The Alliance is innovating in this area.”
Alliance Executive Director Abdul Ghaffar expressed his gratitude to the South Africa Medical Research Council: “This first funding is a symbol of South Africa’s engagement and commitment to the value of the new kind of research the Alliance is proposing. We already have an excellent relationship and trust that we can build this partnership into one of value, long-term. There is much we can do together.”
Board chair John-Arne Røttingen added his thanks to South Africa: “This first solid expression of support from a middle-income country is of major significance for the Alliance. We hope that others will be encouraged to follow suit.”