HEARD's Health Systems project provides valuable insights through co-ordinated research in three countries: South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. The project's focus is on the system of management and administration of public health services, and not directly on the operation of health care facilities. To date, there has not been much written specifically on these issues, hence this research is filling a gap in the area of health systems research.

The project fieldwork has been completed and analysis is currently underway in all three countries. "Initial interesting findings that emerged include the issue of Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) and the under-budgeting of it which has put the already strained health departments under more pressure. Another finding is the moratorium placed on non-critical posts, the definition of which is unclear, as alluded to in recent media reports by KwaZulu-Natal's Head of Department of Health, Dr Sibongile Zungu," says lead researcher of the project, Suraya Dawad.

After analysis, manuscripts will be written focusing on the main issues of the research. This will involve partners from all countries in the true spirit of collaborative multi-country south-south research. At the same time, stakeholder meetings are planned for early 2010 to disseminate findings.

Health Systems team members pictured in Livingstone in March this year.