Development of the Philippine National Unified Health Research Agenda 2023–2028

Background:
Effective health research priority-setting (RPS) is essential for directing resources toward the most pressing health challenges and ensuring that research efforts are aligned with national and global health goals. Various RPS frameworks emphasize structured methodologies, stakeholder engagement, and transparent decision-making to enhance research impact. In the Philippines, the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA) serves as a strategic roadmap for health research, updated every six years to reflect evolving public health needs.

Methods:
This project developed the NUHRA 2023–2028 through bottom-up prioritization, nominal group technique, multicriteria decision analysis, and consensus markers. We conducted 17 regional workshops and 1 national consultation to seek inputs from stakeholders. Generative AI assisted in the process of synthesizing research topics. Evaluation forms were deployed to workshop participants towards improvement of future RPS processes.

Results:
This research prioritization exercise involved over 500 participants across the country, facilitated through 17 regional workshops and 1 national validation meeting. This resulted in 11 research themes with 41 subthemes that represent the interests of health research stakeholders nationwide.

Conclusion:
The NUHRA 2023–2028 continues to underscore the importance of a unified vision in health research. A notable enhancement in this iteration of the NUHRA is the deliberate use of decision thresholds, ensuring more precise and informed choices. Beyond being a list of research priorities, the NUHRA 2023–2028 is a reflection of the Philippines’ dedication to continually refine its RPS approach, ensuring the NUHRA remains relevant and impactful.