Western Cape Government Deepens Health Research in the Province | Western Cape Government

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Western Cape Government Deepens Health Research in the Province

21 September 2012

The Provincial Health Research Committee (PHRC) hosted its second annual Provincial Research Day at Lentegeur Hospital’s Conference Centre on 21 September 2012.

The PHRC is the provincial counterpart to the National Health Research Committee established in terms of the National Health Act of 2003. The committee has broad terms of reference directed at promoting the contribution of research to societal health and welfare.

Western Cape Minister of Health Minister, Theuns Botha, comments: “I am very aware of the lack of research resources and its underfunding at national government level. I am hoping to address this issue through the national planning commission. It is for this reason that I look forward to the outcomes of discussions at the provincial health research day. For the future growth of our province and our country it is imperative that research is funded – both privately and publicly.”

The purpose of the Research Day was to bring together a diverse audience of researchers, service managers and healthcare providers from the Western Cape Provincial and City of Cape Town Health Departments, as well as community representatives with the aim of promoting:

  • Awareness and understanding of the research carried out in health services in the Western Cape.
  • Research collaboration between researchers, services and other interested parties.
  • An agenda for research of direct interest to the services.
  • Ways of improving the translation of research findings into policy and practice.

More than 120 researchers will be present from the following institutions:

  • University of the Western Cape.
  • Western Cape Government Health.
  • City of Cape Town.
  • University of Cape Town.
  • Provincial Health Research Committee.
  • Stellenbosch University.
  • Human Sciences Research Council.
  • Medical Research Council.
  • Health Systems Trust.
  • National Health Research Committee.
  • Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
  • Ukwanda Centre for Rural Health.
  • Medecins Sans Frontieres.
  • Centre for Evidence-Based Health Care. 

Emphasis was placed on promoting a greater sense of partnership between researchers and service managers in the province, based on an expression of research priorities by provincial and local authority managers and, in turn, communication of research findings by researchers to the relevant departments, thus creating opportunities for future cooperation between stakeholders.

The committee assists the health departments with their approval process for research carried out in facilities under their control. The approval is necessary to ensure that these facilities are able to accommodate the proposed research activity, science and ethics approval has been received and to facilitate a cooperative environment for the research to be conducted.

The committee aims to:

  • Improve the feedback of results of projects undertaken at provincial health facilities provincial managers.
  • Promote the conduct of health research in the province.
  • Continue the process of assisting the province to set research priorities.

The Annual Provincial Research Day encourages and promotes research in the province by providing a platform for the showcasing of research conducted in the province and creating an opportunity for community engagement.

Media Enquiries: 

Hélène Roussouw
Tel: 021 483 4426
Cell: 082 771 8834
E-mail: Helene.Rossouw@westerncape.gov.za