B – Health research in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Ismali SA, McDonal A, Dubois E, et al. Assessing the state of health research in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 2013;106(6):224-233
(doi: 10.1258/jrsm.2012.120240)

This review presents an assessment of the current state of health research systems across the Eastern Mediterranean Region based on publicly available literature and data sources. The review finds that – while there have been important improvements in productivity in the Region since the early 1990s – overall research performance is poor with critical deficits in system stewardship, research training and human resource development, and basic data surveillance. This review identifies key areas for a regional strategy and how to address challenges, including increased funding, research capacity-building, reform of governance arrangements and sustained political investment in research support.
http://jrs.sagepub.com/content/106/6/224.full