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Dulitha N. Fernando.

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To develop tools to assess
• the quality of the ACHR recommendations
• implementation of the recommendations
Conduct an assessment of the 5 past
ACHR recommendations using the above
Prepare a report based on the findings

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Advice the Regional Director on :
• Formulation and implementation of health research policies and health research (HR) agenda
• Coordination and harmonization of HR activities of national bodies with those of WHO
• Development, management and improvement of HR information system
• Collection , analysis and dissemination pof existing HR findings

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Review of available documents
Using the tools developed, assessment of the
recommendations :
• numbers, technical areas, clarity, relevance to countries of the region, follow up required etc.
• obtain information from relevant technical units
• assessment at the country level ( not carried out due to issues related to feasibility)
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Summarize the observations re. the assessment of the recommendations
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Obtain views from ACHR members using a tool developed for the purpose
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Prepare the report

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Number of recommendations per session – ranged from 8 -14.
Total number of recommendations -
5 sessions :55
Of them,
• 27( 49%) - on topics related to health research development
• Others - : on selected technical areas

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Of the recommendations,
• 35 : to be followed up at SEARO
• 15 : follow up at country level
• 05 : SEARO with HQ / countries

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General observations
• A wide range of focus areas
• Some degree of overlap
• Some recommendations include several follow up actions
• Some are stated in general terms, making follow up less clear.

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Activities supporting national health systems ( updating profiles of national health research systems, identifying strengths and weaknesses, knowledge dissemination etc.)
Strengthening country capacity for health research
Strengthening research management capacities
Resources for research
Links with HQ research programmes
Research ethics
Collaborating centres

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Relevance to countries of the region
• All recommendations are relevant to all countries, to varying extents.
Clarity and ease of interpretation
• Varied with each recommendation
• Writing style varied between different reports
• Some are clearly stated ‘focused’ statements with others stated in more general terms
Follow up required
• Some require several follow up actions, spread over a period while others are “targeted “
• Most of them clearly indicate the follow up required ,
SEARO, Country or SEARO in collaboration with the country or with HQ units.

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26 th Session
27 th
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28 th
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29 th
30 th
Human Genetics(5 )
Arsenic poisoning (2)
Health Impact Assessment (2)
CVD (2)
TB (1)
Thalassaemia ( 5)
EID (5)
Avian Influenza (1)
Vaccine development (1)

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Relevance – Contributes to a vast area of research. Relevant to all countries, Resource availability varies.
Clarity : All 5 recommendations are clearly stated , no overlap
Follow up : with SEARO. Required
F.U. is feasible.

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Arsenic poisoning ( 2)
Relevant to several countries of the region. Cause debilitating disease, high burden of disease, preventable
Clarity and follow up : Two recommendations to be implemented at the country level. Areas of research grouped as : immediate, medium term and long term.

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Health impact assessment (2) : Relevant to all countries of the region. Two recommendations – clearly stated, identified SEARO to take f.u. action
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CVD (2) : relevant to all countries. Need for research on prevention and management. Clearly stated. WHO to work in partnership with relevant institutions to promote research

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Tuberculosis – one recommendation which includes two components, one -which includes technical inputs and another , requiring financial inputs.
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Thalassaemia – 5 recommendations made.
Relevant to several countries of the region. 3 of the recommendations were to be f.u. at SEARO, one of them to be linked with collaborating centres.

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EID – 5 recommendations. Relevant to all countries of the region.
Recommendations clearly stated .
Identifies several inputs to be carried out by the countries and /or by the
WHO.
Two recommendations focus on
SEARO support for countries in public policy analysis, others for SEARO to take follow up action.

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One on Avian influenza and another on vaccine development.
Relevant to all countries to varying extents
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Less clarity .
Each recommendation has several components which are inter related and covers a wide scope.

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Sources of information
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Report of the ACHR session that follows the session in which the recommendation is made
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From relevant technical units at SEARO
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From countries – ( not feasible during this review, even though a tool was developed for the purpose)
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From 29 th ACHR : an Agenda item titled “Follow up of recommendations of the previous ACHR” was included.

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Total of 12 recommendations made at the 26 th ACHR
Report of the 27 th ACHR – 4 have been implemented.
Information from RPC and other technical units - follow up action has been taken in respect of all recommendations.

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27 th ACHR
Of the 12 recommendations, no information on follow up of 5 , including those on Arsenic poisoning.
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Of the other 7, two recommendations on
CVDs have been implemented and on 5 others, the available information is inadequate to assess the status of implementation.

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14 recommendations made
Report presented at the 29 th ACHR session indicated that only 2 recommendations were implemented.
Additional information shows that, for three others , follow up action has commenced and are on going.
The recommendation on vaccine policy has been followed up in 2009 with the establishment of sub committee of SEA-ACHR on vaccines and drug development
Available information on the recommendations on
Thalassaemia and TB are not adequate to make an assessment of the status of implementation.

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8 recommendations made.
5 of them were related to EIDs, detailed information on their implementation is available.
Information from RPC indicate the implementation of the other three recommendations.

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9 recommendations
Follow up action taken in respect of
6. Of them, follow up of 4 recommendations are on going.
Two others focus on broad based activities aimed at promoting health research in the region. There is no information to assess the implementation of these recommendations.

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A total of 12 recommendations were made
( some of them , with several components)
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Follow up meetings held: at the 1 st follow up meeting 8 recommendations were identified for early action.
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Recommendations revised and included in the report of the 31 st

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2 nd F.U. Meeting held - Presentations on
Regional strategy and guidelines for developing a national health research strategy were presented.
Sub committee on drugs and vaccine development established
Regional consultation on ‘strategy for health’ held in July 2011. Final draft ready.
Review of the regional policy on immunization – being undertaken.
Action to strengthen research capacity in three countries – commenced.

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Nearly half the recommendations are related to aspects relevant to health research.
Many recommendations include several follow up actions by different implementing agencies within and outside
SEARO.
Some recommendations are very specific and clear.
Of the 55 recommendations, 35 were to be followed up at
SEARO, 5 at SEARO in collaboration with relevant units at
HQ and 15 at country level.
Follow up action varied – some of them requiring “one time
“ action while others - “ implementation over a period of time”.
Information on follow up action taken was not readily accessible
Of the 55 recommendations, 35 have been implemented and some are ongoing. 4 – not implemented and4 – no information.
On 12 recommendations – information inadequate to make an assessment of the status of implementation.

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Introduction of an agenda item titled ‘follow up of recommendations of the previous ACHR” has to be continued and monitored to ensure that the information provided is “comprehensive”.
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Mechanism to disseminate the recommendations at SEARO and at country level – to be streamlined.
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Develop a mechanism to follow up at SEARO, through sharing of information with all relevant technical units and obtaining their views on the priority areas, within those recommendations.
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Feasibility of implementing the recommendation at SEARO and at country level needs to be assessed.
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A “forum” to be established to follow up at SEARO level.
RPD unit to take the role of the Coordinator

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Financial requirements needed for implementation to be considered in biannual financial planning.
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Develop a mechanism to follow up at country level. Suggested that ‘ the focal point for research’ at country level be strengthened and be provided with a clear set of responsibilities so that he/she could establish links with the country focal point, all other relevant research institutions and with RPC at SEARO.

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A number of recommendations were made during the session.
WHO Representatives to play a key role
Follow up meetings held.
Action taken to : established ACHR Sub
Committee on vaccine and drugs development
Review the regional policy on vaccine development
Regionla strategy for researcj for health initiated.