What is the Health Systems Trust?
The mission of the Health Systems Trust (HST) is to contribute to building comprehensive, effective, efficient and equitable national health systems by supporting the implementation of functional health districts in South Africa and the region.
Its principle objective is to promote scientific research into health systems in South Africa with the principal objective of designing and planning programmes and evaluations thereof towards restructuring of the health system and the development of a comprehensive National Health System based on equity.
Since 1992, HST has been contributing to the development of a comprehensive, equitable and effective national health system in South Africa. More recently HST has begun to work more widely within the SADC region.
Core activities are health systems research, health systems development, advocacy, capacity development and information dissemination. These activities are implemented through core programmes of Research, the Initiative for Sub-District Support (ISDS), Community Development and HealthLink.
The underlying principles that guide HST are support for the Primary Health Care philosophy and a commitment to equity and efficiency. HST's uniqueness lies in the ability to integrate knowledge generation, policy development and practice in health systems development.
HST's projects and programmes are geared to support and monitor transformation towards a more equitable provision of health services, especially to meet the needs of the most disadvantaged.
The role and practice of HST in district health system development, health systems research, electronic communication for health workers and reporting of progress particularly on health equity and health services delivery is widely acknowledged.
HST is guided by an independent Board of Trustees, which comprises a diverse group of leaders with professional standing and expertise in health systems development and public health. HST has a sound working relationship with the Department of Health, and also works closely with parliamentarians, academic and research institutions, and civil society.
Contact details
HST head office is located in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. They also have offices in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Pietermaritzburg.
Durban (Head-office)
Physical Address: 401 Maritime House, Salmon Grove, Victoria Embankment, Durban 4001
Postal Address: PO Box 808, Durban, 4000
Tel/Fax: +27-31-307 2954 +27-31-3040775
Cape Town
Physical Address: 1st Floor Riverside Centre, cnr of Belmont & Main Road, Rondebosch, 7700
Tel/Fax: +27-21- 689 3325 +27 -21 - 689 3329
Johannesburg
Physical Address:
11th Floor Orion House, 49 Jorrison Street, Braamfontein, 2017
Postal Address:
PO Box 31059, Braamfontein, 2017
Tel/Fax: +27-11-403 2415 +27-11-403 2447
Pretoria
Physical Address: Boardwalk Office Park, Block 6, Haymeadow Street (off Hans Strydom) Faerie Glen, 0184
Postal Address: P.O. Box 40394, Arcadia, 0007
Tel/Fax: +27-12 991 5514 / +27-12 991 5328
Email: az.gro.tsh|tsh#az.gro.tsh|tsh
See also…
World Health Organisation
Medical Research Council
Cochrane Centre
