To fulfill its duties, the INS is responsible for:

• Coordinate and oversee the definition of the national health research agenda and its implementation throughout the national territory;
• To promote and coordinate national health research development activities, particularly through institutional strengthening, scientific capacity building of national technicians, and monitoring the research environment within the health system.;
• Desenvolver e realizar investigação clínica, biomédica, farmacológica, epidemiológica e sócio-antropológica, com base nas prioridades nacionais.