Annual Report 1999

Support for decentralisation of health care remains an important component of a shift towards equity, and a current challenge for health planners is defining the relationship between, and relative roles of, the health district and local government. While the Initiative for Sub-district Support is the main channel through which district-focused activities are being supported, the research and information requirements are also a concern for the Trust.

The launch of the Equity Gauge as a means of monitoring the move towards equity generated much excitement in the past year. The partnership between parliament, NGOs, and government on which the Gauge is founded has served as a template for other countries with similar health development concerns, and the invitation to HST to lead this global initiative is a testimony to the relevance and appropriateness of the monitoring tool.

HST continues its important role as a broker of health systems research-based and health sector-generated information. The stable of HST publications which include the weekly publication of the HealthLink Bulletin, the monthly Update, the annual South African Health Review, and the occasional working papers remain very useful sources of current information for those involved in health sector planning and practice.

Although HST is a relatively small player in the field of health research in the country, it occupies a special niche in the field of health systems research. Furthermore, its role as a facilitator of important discussions such as the debate about the role of the infant food industry in infant health research makes an important contribution.