Identify health-based research outcomes, translate into policies — Subramaniam

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PUTRAJAYA: Researches and policymakers are urged to work together in identifying important health-based research outcomes that can be translated into policies in order to build a healthy nation.

Health Minister Datuk Seri S Subramaniam said at present researchers and policymakers were working independently, whereby researchers never meet the policymakers or translate their research findings into practices and policies.

“In principal, we need to look at how we can utilise the research findings in guiding policy. If we do that, we can make good policies. Policies are based on evidence and facts not perceptions.

“Different people may have different perceptions on the same issue. But, facts don’t run. So, we can interpret it the same way… I hope there can be a marriage between research and policy making.

“The research finding will allow the Health Ministry to make evidence based decisions to transform our health delivery system into a more sustainable one,” he told reporters at a press conference here yesterday.

Earlier, he officiated at the two-day National Institute of Health (NIH)  Research Week 2016 incorporating the 19th NIH Scientific Seminar here, which started yesterday.

Also present were Health director general, Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and Health deputy director general (Research and Technical Support) Datuk Dr Shahnaz Murad.

Subramaniam said the research week held would gather public health professionals and researchers to present and share the latest findings or health issues through research.

“It is a platform to impart knowledge as well as to share and identify health based research outcomes, new ways of doing things and provides up-to-date knowledge on current issues,” he said.

The Research Week 2016, themed “Transforming Health Systems Through Research: Towards Sustainability”, brings in Malaysian policymakers, academicians and health system stakeholders to hear experiences shared by international experts on issues related to health system transformation. — Bernama