Researchers and health professionals have called for increased government investment in local health research, warning that inadequate funding and the limited application of research findings could undermine efforts to address Ghana’s healthcare challenges.
They say stronger support for indigenous research and closer collaboration between scientists, policymakers and healthcare practitioners are necessary to ensure evidence informs public policy and improves service delivery.
The concerns were raised at the second Research Dissemination Day organised by HopeXchange Medical Centre, where experts also highlighted the challenges facing young researchers and the difficulties of translating scientific findings into practical interventions.
Provost of the College of Science, Professor Philip Antwi-Agyei, said Ghana continued to face challenges in healthcare, environmental management, food security and other sectors that required evidence-based solutions.
He observed that although considerable resources had been committed to research over the years, translating findings into policies and practical interventions remained a challenge.
Professor Antwi-Agyei urged young researchers to focus on studies that could inform policymaking and improve public service delivery.
“Young researchers are to engage in meaningful and impactful research that will be translated into policy and practice. What hasn’t been too good is the translation of this research into policies and practice,” he said.
He also called on government to prioritise indigenous research addressing the country’s immediate challenges, arguing that local researchers were well positioned to investigate issues affecting Ghanaian communities.
Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng, called for stronger collaboration between researchers, policymakers and frontline healthcare professionals to ensure scientific evidence is incorporated into clinical practice.
He said although several research findings had demonstrated their effectiveness, challenges within healthcare facilities often prevented their adoption.
Among the barriers he identified were heavy workloads, time constraints, inadequate funding, staff shortages and limited research skills among healthcare professionals.
“Practitioners will face heavy patient volumes, little time, leaving little to no dedicated time for participating in or even implementing the research,” he said.
To address the challenges, Dr Adomako-Boateng proposed the adoption of learning health systems, increased investment in implementation research, stronger leadership among healthcare professionals and more collaborative research design.
He also recommended digital repositories containing accessible clinical guidelines to help practitioners apply research findings in their work.
Medical Superintendent of HopeXchange Medical Centre, Dr Akosua Frimpomaa Amoateng, said the annual dissemination event was established to provide a platform for researchers to share their findings and demonstrate how research could improve clinical practice.
She explained that research was one of the key foundations of the hospital’s operations, alongside clinical care and health education.
“We realised that we needed to give a boost to research because research goes on every day, but we want to establish a platform where researchers can come together and share their ideas,” she said.
Dr Amoateng said the initiative was intended not only to showcase research findings but also to encourage their application in healthcare delivery and motivate more professionals to pursue research.
The Research Dissemination Day is in its second year.
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