Global spending on health research by both the public and private sectors amounts to about US$70 billion annually (1998 estimate). Less than 10% of this amount is devoted to 90% of the world's health problems, the so-called 10/90 Gap.
The Global Forum for Health Research was established as a Foundation in 1998. Its central objective is to help correct the 10/90 gap.
To reach this objective, the Global Forum uses two main strategies: first, the development of a priority-setting methodology which would permit to better identify priorities in health research; second, the development of initiatives, bringing together a wide range of partners to find solutions to priority health problems. Current initiatives include the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research, Medicines for Malaria Venture, Child Health and Nutrition Research, Global Tuberculosis Research Initiative, Cardiovascular Health in Developing Countries, Violence against Women, and Public/Private Partnerships for Health. New initiatives are under preparation in the fields of Road Traffic Accidents, Mental Health, and Child Abuse.
Given the fact that health research is more and more a global public good and that an estimated 40% of health research in the world is funded by the USA public and private sectors, the discussion of the 10/90 gap issue is very relevant to the APHA 2001 central theme.
See www.globalforumhealth.org
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to: 1. Have an overview of the dimensions of the present global public health challenges. 2. Grasp the major elements of a matrix for priority-setting in health research. 3. Identify actions which they could support to contribute to the solution of the main challenges.
Keywords: International Public Health, Research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: GLOBAL FORUM FOR HEALTH RESEARCH
c/o World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.