Use Research Evidence in Health Policy Formulation
By Justine Wangui ( ScienceAfrica Correspondent)
Email: justinewangui@gmail.com
Prof. Eliya Msiyaphazi Zulu, the executive director of African Institute for Development (AFIDEP) has urged Kenya to strengthen the use of research evidence in health policy formulation by the Parliament and ministry of health. In the presentation of his research during the 5th KEMRI Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) conference in Nairobi, Prof Zulu said there is need to improve priorities in setting and allocating resources to the ministry of health. “Investing in health is of critical importance to Kenyans. The government should pay much attention to the translation of research knowledge to decision makers so as to hit the goal of development,” said Prof. Eliya.
Email: justinewangui@gmail.com
Prof. Eliya Msiyaphazi Zulu, the executive director of African Institute for Development (AFIDEP) has urged Kenya to strengthen the use of research evidence in health policy formulation by the Parliament and ministry of health. In the presentation of his research during the 5th KEMRI Annual Scientific and Health (KASH) conference in Nairobi, Prof Zulu said there is need to improve priorities in setting and allocating resources to the ministry of health. “Investing in health is of critical importance to Kenyans. The government should pay much attention to the translation of research knowledge to decision makers so as to hit the goal of development,” said Prof. Eliya.
He explained that parliament has a role
in budget formulation and planning. " Kenya should pay much attention to
research funding and erase the notion of donor research funding from
abroad. The parliament is the main decision maker. Members of
parliament provide valuable oversight role to the executive
(government). They also play a key role in resource allocation."
Mombasa and Nairobi counties have recorded a stronger use of research knowledge capacity in comparison to the rest of the counties in Kenya. They have already developed a research agenda aimed at bridging the gap between research and policy.
However, challenges include fragmented research evidence, weak local capacity to generate and apply evidence-based policies, production of unwanted evidence, ineffective packaging of evidence and little interests among decision makers. The irrelevancy, weakness and poor packaging of research on the supply side (researchers), and weak institutional infrastructure leadership on the demand side (decision makers) are the reasons behind the low use of research evidence in Kenya. Prof Zulu recommended effective communication that will effectively interpret research evidence to the end users. “Kenya should have a knowledge translation platform because a lot of research has not been brought to the table of decision makers,” the expert added.
Kenyan policy makers including Members of County Assembly and Members of Parliament are required to have the capacity to understand evidence in research. They should mobilize communities to use research evidence. However, Prof Zulu noted that there is improvement in priority setting and resource allocation in Africa for the last fifteen years. A growing demand for the use of research evidence in the formulation of health policies has also been recorded.
Mombasa and Nairobi counties have recorded a stronger use of research knowledge capacity in comparison to the rest of the counties in Kenya. They have already developed a research agenda aimed at bridging the gap between research and policy.
However, challenges include fragmented research evidence, weak local capacity to generate and apply evidence-based policies, production of unwanted evidence, ineffective packaging of evidence and little interests among decision makers. The irrelevancy, weakness and poor packaging of research on the supply side (researchers), and weak institutional infrastructure leadership on the demand side (decision makers) are the reasons behind the low use of research evidence in Kenya. Prof Zulu recommended effective communication that will effectively interpret research evidence to the end users. “Kenya should have a knowledge translation platform because a lot of research has not been brought to the table of decision makers,” the expert added.
Kenyan policy makers including Members of County Assembly and Members of Parliament are required to have the capacity to understand evidence in research. They should mobilize communities to use research evidence. However, Prof Zulu noted that there is improvement in priority setting and resource allocation in Africa for the last fifteen years. A growing demand for the use of research evidence in the formulation of health policies has also been recorded.
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