strategy
Researching public health
Synonyms:
Strengthening studies on primary health careSupporting public health research
Context:
It was reported in 1990 that only 5% of global expenditures on health research are directed at the health problems unique to developing countries, and less than 10% of donor assistance for health is devoted to research, both biomedical and in the social sciences. Several thousand serious deficiencies in the international health research and development system were identified. For example, the expertise of the global pharmaceutical industry is not being adequately applied to the development of drugs and vaccines that could reduce the toll of early childhood disease. Technology assessment is weak, as is the health policy research needed to determine more equitable and efficient ways to finance and deliver health services. Most important, local research capacity in developing countries is woefully inadequate. A number of promising research efforts, including the Children's Vaccine Initiative and programmes to deal with acute respiratory infections, tuberculosis, micronutrient deficiencies and worm infections, suffer from weak and uncertain donor funding. In general, the problems of constrained funding for research are compounded by donors' limited capacity to stay abreast of the latest research proposals and to assess the relative priorities for funding this research. Claim:
The development of a global mechanisms for better coordination of international health research would include well-defined networks of research centres, informal consultative bodies, and large global funds that pool donor assistance. Examples of these institutional arrangements in other sectors, such as the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research and the Global Environment Facility, may provide models for improving the coordination of international health research. Broader:
Promoting healthResearching healthStrengthening researchSafeguarding public healthImproving effectiveness of aid for health Narrower:
Researching diseasesStudying mental healthEvaluating family planningResearching childhood cancerPromoting biomedical researchResearching disaster medicinePromoting dental health researchStudying nutrition-based illnessConducting epidemiological studiesResearching environmental indicatorsResearching adolescent sexual healthStudying health effects of pesticidesStudying causes of general poor healthReducing disparity in human healthinessAssessing health impacts of climate changeAdopting health impact assessment proceduresResearching exposure to environmental hazardsResearching health effects of transport systemsResearching effects of poor sanitation facilitiesResearching child exposure to environmental hazardsStudying negative effects of over-crowding on mental healthIdentifying effects of nitrogen oxide emissions on human healthModelling cost and effectiveness of alternative health strategiesResearching effects of air pollution on human healthExpanding research and methodologies to meet primary health care needsUndertaking interdisciplinary research on health effects of climate changeUndertaking research on health effects of increasing ultraviolet radiationConducting research on the health effects of hazardous wastes in developing countries Facilitates:
Publicizing healthDocumenting hazards to human healthEstablishing quality of life indicatorsReducing health risks from environmental pollutionStrengthening institutions supporting improved health of vulnerable groups Organizations:
European Society of Health and Medical Sociology International Council for Global Health Progress Caribbean Health Research Council European Centre for Research and Development in Primary Health Care ASEAN Institute for Health Development Council on Health Research for Development International Association for Research on Development, Health and Environment Gangarosa International Health Foundation References:
Commission on Health Research for Development: Health Research: essential link to equity in development Subjects:
Communication → PromotionResearch, Standards → Study
Research, Standards → Research
Health Care → Health
Health Care → Care
Government → Public
Type Classification:
E: Emanations of other strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
