Supporting Public Health Research Capacity, Quality, and Productivity in a Diverse Region

Public health research plays a critical role in strengthening health systems and improving their performance and impact. However, scholarly production in public health coming from the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) remains well below the world average and lacks a tangible growth trend over time. During the seventh Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network Regional Conference, a roundtable session brought together a panel of public health experts representing Global Health Development/Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network affiliates, universities or academia, and research institutions from the region, where they shared insights on the current situation of public health research; challenges and barriers to research facing the different countries in the EMR and the region in general; and how research agendas, productivity, and quality can be supported through strengthening research capacity in the region. Although the region is diverse in terms of health system capacity and socioeconomic development, several common challenges were identified, including a lack of strategic prioritization to guide health research, insufficient funding, ineffective transfer of knowledge to policy and practice, limited availability of research facilities, and limited national and international research collaboration. Occupied countries and countries in a state of conflict, such as Palestine, face additional barriers, such as personal and social security, lack of control of borders and natural resources, travel and movement restrictions, and confidentiality challenges because of the continuing war conditions and occupation. However, there have been success stories in the EMR regarding research publications and their positive and effective impact on policy and decision-makers. To improve research resilience and public health care in the region, a collaborative approach involving institutions, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders is critical.