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Background <p>Optimal functioning of public health systems entails a single coordinating focal point incorporating public health activities of both private and public sectors of a society. The consolidation of public health functions at the national level through the establishment of national public health institutes (NPHI) aids in effectively tackling public health challenges by incorporating data and expertise to coordinate efforts across different sectors. Most African countries are often lacking the necessary public health frameworks for effective pandemic preparedness and outbreak response. With sub optimally established NPHIs in African countries with just barely a quarter of these presenting fully established NPHIs in an attempt to strengthen health systems, this review aims to provide specific details on established NPHIs in Africa, evaluating their overall roles, accomplishments and providing details on observed gaps.</p> Methods <p>The study was a systematic review conducted using the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist. Peer-reviewed research articles on NPHIs in Africa published from January 2000 to April 2025 in English or French were retrieved from seven databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, WHO Afro Library, the National Institute for Health Research, and African Journals Online databases.</p> <p>This systematic review examined the establishment, accomplishments, and challenges of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) in Africa.</p> Results <p>Eleven studies (2000–2025) were analyzed using PRISMA and QATSDD criteria. NPHIs were found to enhance outbreak detection, consolidate fragmented health functions, strengthen workforce capacity, and foster inter-institutional cooperation. Key achievements included advancing surveillance, improving equity, and supporting evidence-based policy responses. However, as of December 2023, only 23 of 55 African Union member states had fully established NPHIs, with persistent governance, communication, and commodity access challenges.</p> Conclusion <p>Findings underscore NPHIs’ critical role in health security, while highlighting urgent gaps limiting Africa’s outbreak preparedness and system resilience.</p>

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National public health institutes in Africa: a systematic review

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月28日

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  • Sidney Sangong,
  • Luchuo Engelbert Bain,
  • Arielle Wada Tchatchou Ndickmuh

摘要

Background

Optimal functioning of public health systems entails a single coordinating focal point incorporating public health activities of both private and public sectors of a society. The consolidation of public health functions at the national level through the establishment of national public health institutes (NPHI) aids in effectively tackling public health challenges by incorporating data and expertise to coordinate efforts across different sectors. Most African countries are often lacking the necessary public health frameworks for effective pandemic preparedness and outbreak response. With sub optimally established NPHIs in African countries with just barely a quarter of these presenting fully established NPHIs in an attempt to strengthen health systems, this review aims to provide specific details on established NPHIs in Africa, evaluating their overall roles, accomplishments and providing details on observed gaps.

Methods

The study was a systematic review conducted using the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist. Peer-reviewed research articles on NPHIs in Africa published from January 2000 to April 2025 in English or French were retrieved from seven databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, WHO Afro Library, the National Institute for Health Research, and African Journals Online databases.

This systematic review examined the establishment, accomplishments, and challenges of National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs) in Africa.

Results

Eleven studies (2000–2025) were analyzed using PRISMA and QATSDD criteria. NPHIs were found to enhance outbreak detection, consolidate fragmented health functions, strengthen workforce capacity, and foster inter-institutional cooperation. Key achievements included advancing surveillance, improving equity, and supporting evidence-based policy responses. However, as of December 2023, only 23 of 55 African Union member states had fully established NPHIs, with persistent governance, communication, and commodity access challenges.

Conclusion

Findings underscore NPHIs’ critical role in health security, while highlighting urgent gaps limiting Africa’s outbreak preparedness and system resilience.