Global-health research architecture: time for mergers?

20 Jan 2009

Paul Chinnock

Source: Lancet (see original article or PDF)

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Citation: Røttingen J-A, Buss PM, Davies S, Touré O (2009). Global-health research architecture: time for mergers? Lancet; 373(9659)193-195.

2009 Elsevier Limited.

According to an article in the Lancet’s Comment section, the international community hampers the ability of low-income and middle-income countries to develop a coherent approach to research priority-setting and the governance of health research. The authors argue that governments, universities, and other research institutions in these countries have limited influence on national research strategies and priorities. The development of local research capacity is thereby undermined.

The same issue was also highlighted at the recent Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health in Bamako, Mali (which was a TropIKA Featured Meeting), where delegates called for better alignment and harmonisation of research funding.

To address the situation, the authors of the Lancet article call for the establishment of a new ‘Global Partnership for Research for Health’. The article pays tribute to the work that is already being done by six organizations that are a key part of the present architecture of global-health research:

However, the writers claim that there is considerable overlap of the strategies and activities of these organizations, resulting in inefficiencies. Discussions that span the governance structures of all six organizations are also difficult.

The authors say there is a need for a ‘supraorganisational perspective’ and that, ‘There are considerable opportunities to be gained in merging these six organizations’. The new ‘Global Partnership for Research for Health’ would be within WHO but with a memorandum of understanding, earmarked funding and independent governance.

This is a proposal that deserves debate. TropIKA.net readers are invited to share their ideas using our Comment function below. Registration is necessary to use this function – see right side-bar.