Cochrane South Africa (SA) is part of the global, independent Cochrane network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers and people interested in health. Cochrane is a non-profit organisation that prepares and disseminates information (in the form of reviews) on what works and what doesn’t in health care. These reviews enable policy makers, health service providers and the public to make informed decisions about health care.   

Cochrane Reviews identify and evaluate all relevant research studies on a topic and synthesise their results. A well-conducted Cochrane Review provides the most authoritative evidence on the efficacy of preventive, therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions and is a powerful tool to enhance healthcare knowledge and decision making.

Cochrane SA is one of 22 Centres worldwide. It has a centre  in Nigeria and facilitates networking between Cochrane and individuals in the following countries: Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Comoros, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

Cochrane SA is a research unit of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).