The quality of collaboration among medical research centers, universities, health executives and the communty in Iran

Title: The quality of collaborations among Medical Research Centers, Universities, Health Executives and the Community in Iran
Author: Saeed Asefzadeh , Ph.D  Professor
Address: Dept. of Social Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
E-Mail: Sasefzadeh@qums.ac.ir
sasefzadeh@yahoo.com
Tel: +98 281 3337006
Fax: +98 281 3331300
Abstract
Background- Health Research System (HRS) is defined a system for planning, coordinating, monitoring and managing health research resources and activities, and; for promoting research for effective and equitable national health development.
Objective- To describe the quality of mutual collaborations among medical research centers,  universities , executive organizations and the communities.
Methods- In this situation analysis, qualitative methods were applied. In-depth interviews were made with head of 20 research centers (RCs), 6 senior executive health administrators at national lever, 10 vice chancellors at universities and 3 directors of private medical research firms. Beside the interviews, the records and evidences were reviewed. 
Findings- The collaborations are rather informal than formal. The cooperation between research centers and universities in policy-makings, priority-stetting and knowledge production and utilization is stronger than with other organs. The research centers have weak relationships with community. About  of them have no relations with the private sector. The collaboration of RCs with the executive organizations and managers is also weak especially in knowledge utilization and priority setting.
Conclusion- The policies the Medical Research Centers should be reoriented towards the basic health problems of the country which the executive organizations as well as the communities are faced. The collaborations between the RCs and the universities, the privates sector and NGOs should also be reinforced.