Can we stop all research in healthcare in Kenya and benefit? Yes we can. The number of research that has been done on diverse areas of healthcare is unlimited yet there continues to be a greater output of more research by the day. The intentions of research are noble and spurred by the need to help, but what do we do after research findings are published in limited circulation journals and the message not propagated? The circus round starts with conferences and tours all over the world, from Monaco to Lisbon then Vegas.
We should have a way in which an implementation strategy is sought, prioritized and pursued. This together with constant monitoring and evaluation of the outcome measure would help to realize the goals of research, for I know that the end game of research is not publication but correction of a problem. You can only guess why there shall continue to be more research submissions everyday simply because the problems have NOT been solved.
Research can be lucrative too, ensuring the lead investigator and the support personnel comfortable conference stipends on top of the salaries that they earn and a chance to abort from the hot seat of implementing the findings of the earlier research. This way no one gets to burn their fingers trying to salvage the morass of unequal distribution of health infrastructure and the over centralization of the healthcare centers. This is what is referred to as apathy by the healthcare givers in pursuit of self-centered goals.
A government publication on health launched to spread the message of implementation of research would be a vehicle to deliver the message to the wider medical fraternity. But as Kenyans are not a reading nation,I wonder how many health professionals will read this piece.There is a need for propagation of the message by having regular Continous medical education and pegging continuous professional development as a requirement for annual registration to the various health regulatory bodies as has been embraced by all healthcare bodies.
The higher education curriculum should also be amended, to emphasize more on the implementation of the works of earlier research in a given area rather than generation of more proposals and research projects.
It can be easier said than done, but if incentives in the form of new wing to a hospital or a modern laboratory and diagnostic equipments for successfully instituting an intervention are given then the benefits are bound to be limitless and self-sustaining. With replication of the interventions in different areas a tide towards a beneficial health system will have been unleashed. You see all it takes is one successful scheme and the journey will have started.
This is the only way we can improve service provision through better practice.Fund only implementation strategies and ensure a continuous improvement and progress.I therefore call on the stoppage of all research on healthcare service provision and instead we focus on implementation of earlier research findings. But clinical practice research can continue only if the attained outcome is betterment of management of diseases to the most at need and disadvantaged in society.
Failure of this, all I can foresee is a continuation of the status quo of unimplemented,execellent studies not being utilized and more resources used for research of the same nature. The time to stop more research and work on the findings is nigh. Rise up O healers.
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