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THE HEALTH | OCTOBER , 2022
| Hot Topic |
Making an informed decision
Health and medical research provide a bigger picture of public health status , which is key for effective health management and intervention
BY KHIRTINI K KUMARAN
HEALTH and medical research and development ( R & D ) have a high value to society . It provides important evidence and information about disease trends and risk factors , treatment outcomes or public health interventions , functional abilities , patterns of care , and healthcare costs .
This real-world evidence and findings aid the Ministry of Health ( MoH ) in making an informed decision and implementing effective public health interventions . It also influences decision-making and policy development at the federal level .
The National Institutes of Health ( NIH ), the research body under the MoH , focuses on conducting health research to support the nation ’ s public health management . The NIH was approved under the 7th Malaysia Plan and was officially launched in August 2003 .
NIH Manager Dr S Asmaliza Ismail said : “ Our research outputs and findings are vital for the ministry , stakeholders and policymakers to make informed decisions and set up interventional healthcare programmes .”
NIH is responsible for carrying out health research , including initial planning and prioritising research areas according to needs , carrying out fieldwork and laboratory work , data collection and analysis , and finally utilising research findings for health services and programmes .
“ Malaysia has a large and robust health and medical research capabilities and capacity ,” she said .
Research capabilities and capacity
Dr Asmaliza joined the Institute for Medical Research ( IMR ) in 1995 as a research officer and was roped into the research management committee the following year .
Now as manager of NIH , she concentrates on supporting the NIH ’ s research institutes in conducting their research . The NIH ’ s six research institutes are ;
• Institute for Medical Research ( IMR )
• Institute for Clinical Research ( ICR )
• Institute for Public Health ( IKU )
• Institute for Health Systems Research ( IHSR )
• Institute for Health Management ( IHM )
• Institute for Health Behavioural Research ( IPTK ) She explained that each institute under the NIH is responsible for conducting research based on their niche areas such as biomedical , public health and epidemiology , clinical , health systems , health management and governance , and health behavioural .
In tandem with MoH ’ s aspiration to go digital in healthcare , NIH also recently established a Digital Health Research & Innovation unit under ICR and houses the biomedical engineering research unit .
The NIH has also been charged with conducting training programmes and consultation in health research for the ministry and other agencies in Malaysia and other countries .
“ Currently , NIH comprises about 800 technical staff , the officers conducting or implementing research . And we are supported by more than 300 staff in the administrative , IT and engineering departments to maintain our facilities .
She continued : “ Apart from NIH , the ministry has research units and divisions within its healthcare facilities .
“ Other government research institutes , higher learning institutions and public universities are also conducting research . Large businesses and enterprises in the health and medical sector also have research units .”
She said that R & D is multidisciplinary and cannot work in a silo . “ It is a collaborative effort , and NIH actively collaborates with other research institutes and organisations .”
NIH ’ s research operations and process
The research process at NIH starts with obtaining the approval or clearance to conduct research or studies from the scientific and ethical committees .
This is so that research ethics and moral principles guarantee the validity and credibility of the research . All NIH research complies with national and international guidelines and good clinical practices .
“ At NIH , we have developed a guideline for conducting research in MoH facilities and institutions .
“ And when any research involves human subjects , whether a clinical trial where investigational medicines or drugs are given to patients , or even having people responding to surveys , we adhere to the Helsinki ethical guidelines .
“ Participation has to be voluntary . We cannot coerce , threaten , or entice patients or the public into participating in trials or survey responses .”