Abstract:
The gap in resources for research for health to alleviate
the major diseases of low income countries has been recognised
for decades now and generally referred to as the
10/90 gap. Low income countries carry more than 90% of
the global disease burden and have less than 10% of funds
from public and private sources to deal with them. Unfortunately,
efforts at moving the gap to even 20/80 have
been frustrated by several factors not least of which is the
inability of governments of low income countries to show
commitment to solving the problem.
Over the last three decades there have been major conferences
and high level ministerial forums at which Ministers
of Health have pledged 2% of their health care budget on
research for health but most have failed to adhere to this
undertaking. Development partners have also been enjoined
to invest at least 5% of their development assistance
to the health sector in research. It is unfortunate that
in some instances donors will request for a demonstration
of a governments fulfilment of the ministerial commitment
before committing to the contribution from aid.
While this may be a way to induce governments of low
income countries to fulfil their commitment, it should be
possible to establish an international peer review mechanism
to encourage investment in research for health and
the utilisation of knowledge derived from their own investment
and that of other countries.