Research and the World Health Organization : a history of the Advisory Committee on Health Research, 1959-1999.

Format:

Book

Government document

Contributor:

World Health Organization.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

World Health Organization. Advisory Committee on Health Research.

World Health Organization.

Health Policy--history.

Health Services Research--history.

International Cooperation--history.

Global Health.

World Health Organization. Advisory Committee on Health Research--History.

Public health--Research--History.

Public health.

World health--Research--History.

World health.

Research.

History.

Public health--Research.

Medical Subjects:

Health Policy--history.

Health Services Research--history.

International Cooperation--history.

Global Health.

Physical Description:

vii, 147 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

[Geneva] : World Health Organization, [2010]

Summary:

"This overview outlines the statutory background for WHO's research, identifies the milestones in health research over five decades, and discusses issues of both process and programs. This report also includes accounts of regional efforts in health research."--Publisher's description.

African region; Eastern Mediterranean region; European region; South East Asia region; Western Pacific region; Pan American Health Organization

Contents:

1 Introduction 5

2 Statutory background 7

2.1 Definition of WHO research policies by the World Health Assembly and the WHO Executive Board 7

2.2 Functions of the Advisory Committee(s) on Medical Research 9

2.3 Principles of advisory committee (ACMR and ACHR) membership (1959-1998) 10

3 Timeline and milestones 12

3.1 Timeline: the four phases of WHO 12

3.2 Milestones along the way 13

3.2.1 Launching special programmes 17

3.2.2 Promoting health services/systems research 19

3.2.3 Primary health care 21

3.2.4 Critical study of primary health care 23

3.2.5 Milestones in charting research policies and strategies 24

4 Research structures and processes: the means to an end 28

4.1 Documenting disparities in research 28

4.2 Principles of scientific cooperation for WHO 30

4.3 WHO mechanisms for the acquisition of scientific and technical/technological advice 31

4.3.1 Background 31

4.3.2 WHO collaborating centres 31

4.3.3 Functions and role of WHO collaborating centres 32

4.3.4 Pan American Health Organization centres 33

4.4 Research capacity strengthening and the special programmes 34

4.4.1 Infrastructural and managerial problems 34

4.4.2 Prioritizing action research 34

4.4.3 Mechanisms for research capacity strengthening 35

4.4.4 Developing networks 36

4.4.5 Research career structures 37

4.4.6 UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases: research capability strengthening 37

4.4.7 WHO Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction: strengthening national research capabilities in human reproduction 40

4.5 Convening major stakeholders in global health 43

5 The broad range of WHO's research activities 44

5.1 Subjects discussed by the ACMR and ACHR 44

5.2 Forward-looking initiatives in research 44

5.2.1 Research in epidemiology and communication science 44

5.2.2 Early warning systems 44

5.2.3 Geographic information systems 45

5.2.4 Pattern analysis 46

5.2.5 Systems analysis 46

5.2.6 Transfer of technology 49

5.3 Methodological issues 49

5.4 Substantive themes 50

5.5 Initiatives in formulating research strategy, 1950(2000 51

5.5.1 The Zuckerman roundtable (1975) 52

5.5.2 Conclusions of the McKeown Report (1988) 53

5.5.3 The importance of research career structures (technical discussions at the World Health Assembly, 1990) 54

5.5.4 New methodologies and the need to better understand the economic environment 54

5.5.5 The impact of scientific advances on future health (1994) 54

5.5.6 Research policy agenda for science and technology to support global health development (1998) 55

6 Regional contributions to health-related research 56

6.1 Who African Region 57

6.1.1 Introduction 57

6.1.2 Special research programmes 57

6.1.3 Health research 58

6.1.4 AACHR support to specific programmes 58

6.1.5 Sustainability versus brain-drain: a great challenge for Africa 59

6.1.6 Conclusion 59

6.2 Who Eastern Mediterranean Region 60

6.2.1 The Eastern Mediterranean Advisory Committee for Health Research 60

6.2.2 Research Policy and Cooperation unit 60

6.2.3 Promotion of effective health systems in Member States 61

6.2.4 Research ethics 64

6.2.5 Web site of the Research Policy and Cooperation unit of the regional office 64

6.2.6 Conclusion 64

6.3 Who European Region 65

6.3.1 Introduction 65

6.3.2 Analytical review 65

6.3.3 A new era 67

6.3.4 Fit for the future 69

6.4 Who South-East Asia Region 70

6.4.1 Background 70

6.4.2 National research capability strengthening 71

6.4.3 Promotion, coordination and support of regional priority research projects 71

6.4.4 The role of SEA/ACHR today and in the future 73

6.5 Who Western Pacific Region 74

6.5.1 Introduction 74

6.5.2 History of the Western Pacific Advisory Committee on Medical/Health Research 74

6.5.3 Health research councils and analogous bodies 75

6.5.4 The Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, as the WHO Regional Centre for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases and Nutrition 76

6.5.5 WHO collaborating centres 77

6.5.6 The future 77

6.6 Pan American Health Organization 78

6.6.1 Introduction 78

6.6.2 Strengthening "good" governance and stewardship for research and the national health research systems in Latin American and Caribbean countries 78

6.6.3 Health research promotion and the common good 80

6.6.4 Improving competencies for health research 81

6.6.5 Developing and maintaining sustainable health research systems 81

6.6.6 Health research alliances and collaboration 83

6.6.7 Conclusion 84

7 Epilogue 86

8 WHO Research for Health Strategy approved by the Sixty-third World Health Assembly 2010 87.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9241564113

OCLC:

704379546

Publisher Number:

99943810858