Research policy

WHO Research for Health Strategy approved by the 63rd World Health Assembly

May 2010 saw the first organization-wide strategy on research approved by the World Health Assembly. The strategy - Research for Health - defines a common framework for how research is approached in WHO and the role WHO is taking in global health research.

The strategy has five main Goals:

  • Capacity - building capacity to strengthen health research systems.
  • Priorities - supporting the setting of research priorities that meet health needs particularly in low and middle income countries.
  • Standards - creating an environment to create good research practice and enable the greater sharing of research evidence, tools and materials.
  • Translation - ensuring quality evidence is turned into products and policy.
  • Organization - action to strengthen the research culture within WHO and improve the management and coordination of WHO research activities.

WHO research for health strategy: a PowerPoint presentation with audio Commentary

This lecture and PowerPoint presentation giving an overview of the development, output and implementation of the WHO strategy on research for health was given by Rob Terry, Project Manager, as part of the online training courses offered by the Geneva Foundation for Medical Research and Training (GFMRT) in August 2010.

World Health Assembly and Executive Board documents

World Health Report 2012

No Health Without Research