Young voices demand health research goals

Abstract

Since 2006, the Global Forum for Health Research and The Lancet have jointly organised an annual essay competition for Young Voices in Health Research. Individuals under the age of 30 years have been invited to submit essays with provocative, idealistic, and passionate ideas related to research and health. Every year, several essays are selected for publication.1 During the 2009 forum, held in Havana, Cuba on Nov 16–20, the Young Voices of that and previous years came together to discuss the structural changes that are needed to make health research work for development. We are deeply worried that, for health research, the voice of young people worldwide remains unspoken. It has been almost 20 years since the influential report of the Committee on Health Research for Development and the identification of the 10/90 gap.2 Despite 13 global forums, three calls to action, and many efforts, the global picture on health research remains disturbing. Although some countries, such as Brazil and China, are starting to play a more prominent role, global health research remains mostly funded, done, and prioritised by the developed world.3 , 4 Only a few low-income and middle-income countries have set priorities for health research and have a research policy.5 Much was expected from the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.6 During the Forum, it became clear that little has changed for health research. Funding for health research remains donor-driven, fragmented, and uncoordinated, and priority setting at both the national and international level remains murky.