| |
 |
Equitable access: Research challenges for health in developing countries.
A Report on Forum 11
2008, 76 pages (English). ISBN 978-2-940401-03-1
The annual meetings of the Global Forum are premier international events for stakeholders in health research for development.
In 2007, Forum 11 took place in Beijing, People's Republic of China. Organized at the invitation of the Ministry of Health of the People's Republic of China, it drew 620 participants from close to 80 countries to discuss research issues, best practices and gaps in securing equitable access to health.
This Forum 11 report provides an overview and synthesis of the key issues discussed and conclusions reached. These include: the need for additional research; better systems of organizing and funding research, for ensuring participation in the process by all the stakeholders and for facilitating research to ensure impact on the health of those in need.
Other central themes include:
- expanding the use of evidence in policy- and decision-making
- equity and human rights (access and inclusion)
- encouraging innovation in research
- research priority setting
- research capacity strengthening
- possibilities with inter-sectoral collaboration
- advocacy for more research and resources
- communication of research results
The publication includes a user-friendly CD-ROM that features the final meeting documents.
|
Combating disease and promoting health
Report on Forum 10
April 2007. 68 pages. ISBN 2-940286-48-5
The Forum meeting of the Global Forum for Health Research is the premier annual event worldwide that brings together key policy-makers, researchers, research institutions, and representatives of development agencies, foundations, nongovernmental organizations, media and the private sector to address the gaps in global and comprehensive health research.
Forum 10 took place in Cairo, Egypt, from 29 October to 2 November 2006, bringing together about 550 participants from 75 different countries.
The report Combating disease and promoting health summarizes a selection of presentations made at Forum 10 in the areas of sexual and reproductive health, neglected diseases research, determinants of health, communications and health research, innovation and health systems.
The CD-ROM that comes with the report features the final meeting documents (full programme, papers, posters, press releases, and list of participants). Hence, it provides rich knowledge, experience and ideas as to how research across the continuum–needs, agendas, resources, organization, results, communication and dissemination, translation to policy and practice, and impact–can deliver better health to the poor and marginalized everywhere.
Forum 10 also featured an Essay Competition for the under 30s, sponsored and organized by the Global Forum and The Lancet. The publication Young Voices in Research for Health is a compilation of winning and shortlisted essays; it can be ordered through the website.
|
Poverty, Equity & Health Research
Report on Forum 9
December 2005. 60 pages. ISBN 2-940286-38-8
The second report published by the Global Forum on an annual meeting,
Poverty, Equity & Health Research, summarizes the many oral and poster presentations and group discussions that took place at Forum 9 and includes a CD-ROM with full papers of presentations, press releases and the final documentation of the meeting.
Forum 9, which took place in Mumbai, India from 12 to 16 September 2005 and was opened by the President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, brought together some 600 participants from over 80 countries. Participants represented national policy-makers, multilateral and bilateral aid agencies, international and national foundations and NGOs, women's organizations, research institutions and universities, the private sector and the media.
Several key messages emerge in the report, including growing recognition that the 'neglected diseases', which have been of concern in recent years, are but an aspect of a wider picture involving 'neglected people'. It emphasizes that much of the burden of morbidity and mortality that affects the poor and marginalized – for example, the high rates of maternal and infant mortality, malnutrition and infectious diseases that they suffer – are avoidable with simple, effective and cheap interventions that are already known, but the capacity is often lacking to deliver these interventions and to make them accessible and affordable to all people, highlighting that there are also 'neglected health systems'.
The report stresses that reducing inequities in health requires political will, increased resources and enhanced effort to organize and deliver health products and services effectively. It also needs research – whether biomedical research to create the needed drugs, vaccines, diagnostics and medical appliances; health policy and systems research to understand and improve the organization and functioning of the health sector; social sciences and behavioural research to increase understanding of the factors that determine health and affect health-seeking behaviour; or operational research to examine how effectively systems and interventions are working on the ground and how they can be improved.
|
Health Research for the Millennium Development Goals
Report on Forum 8
May 2005. 60 pages. ISBN 2-940286-31-0
The first report published by the Global Forum on an annual meeting, Health Research for the Millennium Development Goals summarizes the main themes of Forum 8 from plenary presentations and includes a CD-ROM with all the presentations, media and final documentation of the meeting. The report clearly demonstrates that a great deal is known about the kinds of research that are urgently required to accelerate and intensify the efforts necessary to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Forum 8, which was held in conjunction with the Ministerial Summit on Health Research, brought together over 900 participants from 450 institutions in 109 countries. Participants represented governments, multilateral and bilateral aid agencies, international and national foundations and NGOs, women's organizations, research institutions and universities, the private sector and the media. The two meetings shared a number of elements, including joint plenary sessions each day.
Several key messages emerge in the report, including the need for more political commitment, a wide interpretation of the health agenda underlying the specific MDG targets – effectively an "MDG-plus" approach that recognizes the vital importance of building strong health systems and addressing all the major health problems of the population, including noncommunicable diseases and injuries, mental and neurological health, sexual and reproductive health, and the health needs of groups such as adolescents and the aged. The report also emphasizes more application of existing knowledge – which itself generates a research agenda into how best to adapt and implement what is already known to work. It stresses the need for more health research of all kinds to create new knowledge, tools and technologies, and to learn how to translate these into effective interventions that are targeted to, and reach, even the poorest and most marginalized sections of the population.
|
|
 |
|