The Ghana Health Service

The Health Research Unit derives its mandate from the parent institution, the Ghana Health Service (GHS); is a Public Service body established under Act 525 of 1996 as required by the 1992 constitution. The GHS is an autonomous Executive Agency responsible for implementation of national policies under the control of the Minister for Health through its governing Council - the Ghana Health Service Council. The establishment of the Ghana Health Service is an essential part of the key strategies identified in the Health Sector Reform process, as outlined in the Medium Term Health Strategy (MTHS), which are necessary steps in establishing a more equitable, efficient, accessible and responsive health care system.

The reforms build on the reorganization of the MOH that began in 1993, which was explicitly designed to set the scene for the establishment of the Ghana Health Service. The reforms also provide a sound organizational framework for the growing degree of managerial responsibility that has already been delegated to districts and hospitals. Themes that were central to the reorganization of 1993 remain important today for the Ghana Health Service: careful stewardship of scare resources, clear lines of responsibility and control, decentralization, and accountability for performance rather than inputs.

The objectives of the Service are to:
• Implement approved national policies for health delivery in the country.
• Increase access to good quality health services, and
• Manage prudently resources available for the provision of the health services.

The Health Research Unit
The Health Research Unit (HRU) was established in 1990 by a Ministry of Health Policy, and later incorporated into the Ghana Health Service in 2002. It has the mandate of coordinating and conducting research into health-related issues to facilitate policy formulation and programme implementation.

The Unit was established in the Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the GHS to underscore the need for research as a tool for decision making. Research within GHS thus focuses on:
1. Providing information to aid policy formulation and programme implementation.
2. Providing empirical data to answer questions that programme managers and policy makers and concerned about.
3. All levels of the health service

The main functional areas include:
1. Conduct of Research
2. Research Management and Coordination
3. Dissemination of Research Findings
4. Documentation of Health Research Findings

The areas of expertise of various members of staff include:
1. Epidemiology,
2. Public Health,
3. Social Sciences including Health Finance and Medical Anthropology,
4. Data Management, Medical Statistics and Information Management.

Some specific areas of research include:

Research Management and Coordination
Conduct of Research
Dissemination of Research Findings
Documentation of Health Research Findings

The areas of expertise of various members of staff include Epidemiology, Public Health, Social Sciences including Health Finance and Medical Anthropology, Data Management, Medical Statistics and Information Management.