Health Research Approval Process

Summary

This section contains documents relating to the health research application process in the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness.

All post-graduate research applications must be submitted on the National Health Research Database (NHRD) via the link https://nhrd.health.gov.za/. If you have undergraduate research application please contact the local facility or district.

All research applications for the  City of Cape Town (Cape Town Municipality: City Health)  must be submitted via the link http://www.capetown.gov.za/City-Connect/Access-information/Submit-a-research-request.

To ensure your application is processed timely the following requirements must be met :

1. All research applications submitted on the NHRD must be fully completed with all relevant documents in order to be reviewed.
2. Complete the 2024 research summary for managers form and submit it on the NHRD in PDF. List the requested facilities on this form and ensure that they correspond to the NHRD selected facilities.
3. Submit a final PDF research protocol on the NHRD.
4. Submit a valid ethics approval letter from an ethics board registered with the National Health Research Council (NHREC). Before submitting your application to the Western Cape Department of Health please check that your ethics board is registered by checking the following webpage: https://www.health.gov.za/nhrec-registration/. If your ethics board is not on this list, please reapply for ethics at an accredited ethics committee and thereafter submit your application on the NHRD.
5. If you are requesting data through the Provincial Health Data Centre (PHDC) please select the Provincial Health Data Centre (PHDC) as the facility and complete the Annexure A data request form and a variable list. See example.
6. For Clinical trial applications, a SAPHRA and SANCTR: National Department of Health approval letter is required.
7. For ongoing studies, extensions and/or  amendments to the study/ protocol  submit a progress report on an Annexure 8 form annually.
8. On completion of your study provide a short summary of your research findings on an  Annexure 9 form and send it to health.research@westerncape.gov.za.Additional research outputs such as a journal article, presentations, conference submissions, etc. can also be sent.

Please refer to the Research Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for further information.

Please Note: The processing time is 6-8 weeks after submission to the relevant facilities and districts. 

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Research Priorities

In 2023 the following research priorities were identified. 

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Health Research Contact:
E-mail: Health.Research@westerncape.gov.za