Health System Research Directorate
Health System Research Directorate is a multidisciplinary scientific field that examines how people get access to health care practitioners and health care services, how much care costs, and what happens to patients as a result of this care. Studies in Health System Research Directorate investigate how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, medical technology, and personal behaviors affect access to health care, the quality and cost of health care, and quantity and quality of life. Health System Research Directorate encompasses research on maternal, child, neonatal and adolescents health, the policies, supporting evidence informed decision making, estimating burden of disease and health economics evaluation, organizations, programmes and people that make up health systems, as well as how the interactions amongst these elements, and the broader influences the decision making practices within the health system, influence system performance.
VISION
The vision of the directorate is to see healthy, productive and prosperous Ethiopians through mobilizing knowledge in the service of the health systems.
MISSION
To promote the health of the Ethiopian people by addressing priority public Health system problems through problem-focused research.
CORE VALUES
- Customer satisfaction: We serve our customers to their best satisfaction with respect and courtesy.
- Creativity and innovation: We believe in creative and innovative thinking to address public health problems.
- Evidence based decision: We generate high quality research findings for evidence based decisions.
- Research ethics and professional commitment: We work with integrity and do no harm to patients and keep the maximum benefit of research to them.
- Transparency and communication: We are reachable, accessible and open to communication.
- Continuous learning and improvement: We recognize scientific and technical staff as our most important resources and therefore we believe in learning, growth and excellence.
- Collaboration and partnership: We are committed for scientific collaboration and partnership.
- Team work: We work as a team in harmony with maximum knowledge sharing.
- Accountability: We focus on results
Objective:
The objective of a health system research directorate is to improve the health of people and communities, by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the health system as an integral part of the overall process of socio-economic development.
1.THEMATIC AREAS OF HEALTH SYSTEM RESEARCH DIRECTORATE
Health system research directorate conducts studies how social factors, financing systems, organizational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviors affect access and use to health care, the quality and cost of health care, and ultimately outcomes of health care services on individuals and populations health and well-being. Keeping health systems on track requires a strong sense of direction, and coherent investment in the various building blocks of the health system, so as to provide the kind of services that produce results, the following are the key thematic areas of Health System researches. in addition, this research directorate conduct studies focusing on estimating burden of disease, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescents health and health economics evaluations, synthesize best available evidence to support evidence informed decision making.
1.1.Health Service Delivery
Health services are the most visible part of any health system both to users and the general public. Service delivery deals with addressing how services are organized and managed, to ensure access, quality, safety and continuity of care across health facilities.
1.2.Medical Products and Technologies
A well-functioning health system ensures equitable access to essential medical products, vaccines and technologies of assured quality, safety, efficacy, and their scientifically sound and cost-effective use. Building effective and accountable national procurement and drug management system is prominent component of health system.
1.3.Health Workforce
Health workers are all the people who are engaged in actions whose primary intent is to protect and improve health. This includes health service providers and health management and support workers in the area. This aspect is concerned with managing dynamic labour markets, to address entry into and exits from the health workforce and improve the distribution and performance of existing health workers.
1.4.Information and Evidence
One of the major objectives of health systems to provide health managers at all levels, as well as community members, with the relevant information they need to make decisions on health-related problems.
The generation and strategic use of information, intelligence research on health and health systems is an integral part of the leadership and governance function, and requires a well-functioning health information system which ensures the production, analysis, dissemination and use of reliable and timely information on health determinants, health system performance and health status.
1.5.Health Care Financing
A good health financing system raises adequate funds for health, in ways that ensure people can use needed services, and are protected from financial catastrophe or impoverishment associated with having to pay for health services. It promotes treatment according to need, and encourages providers to offer an effective mix of curative and preventive services.
1.6.Leadership and Governance
It is the most complex and crucial component of any health system. It is about the role of the government in health and its relation to other actors whose activity impact on health. Both political and technical expertise is required to address competing demands for limited resources, but there is no single, fixed approach for effective leadership and governance. Key components include strategic policy guidance, information and oversight, collaboration and coalition building, regulation, system design, and accountability.
1.7 Maternal and newborn health-care includes key interventions to improve maternal and newborn health and survival. It includes those key interventions to be delivered through health services, the family and the community.
1.8 Child and Adolescent Health Research improves effectiveness, quality, safety and delivery of health care and prevention/health promotion services to children. This is accomplished through application of the best evidence and research methods into these areas and related aspects of health and health care.
Although the HS-RH- Research directorate proposes eight teams, for the time being 3 teams have been organized under the directorate. Below is a list of teams:
1.Health Service Delivery Research Case Team:
2.Health care Resource Research Case Team: Include key thematic areas 1.2 through 1.5
3.Reproductive Health Research Case Tea: Include key thematic areas 1.7 through 1.8
Ethiopia Mini Demographic and Health Survey 2019 [FR363]
