ABSTRACT
The lack of access to basic healthcare, a key thrust of universal health coverage campaigns in countries around the world but in resource-poor countries, emphasises the need for protections in health research. Further, there is often little integration of research work into healthcare provision, referral systems, public health programs, or national academic institutions. Health research is not on top of the health agenda in many African countries. One of the suggestions that have been made in this regard is equitable collaboration between African countries in research, harnessing existing resources and forming synergies that would achieve goals that may be impossible for lone countries. Even where research is taking place it is often difficult to obtain information on health research in African countries. The need for health research in African countries has certain connections with the necessity of better research governance. The governance of health research has to take into account the contextual challenges of research funders/sponsors and priorities.
