Health Research: Essential Link to Equity in Development

While one-fifth of the world's 5 billion people can now expect to live to see their 80th birthday, nearly half of the rest--about 1.6 billion people--suffer overwhelmingly the world's burden of unavoidable illness and premature death. Increasingly, citizens of developing countries are coming
to believe that at the root of such inequity lies an attempt to apply "first world" solutions without sufficient adaptation to the realities of the third world. This landmark report of the Commission of Health Research for Development gives voice to such concerns, documents current inequalities in
health, and outlines a new strategy for meeting health needs. Based on a two-year global investigation of health research and its actual and potential role in development, the report synthesizes data to show emerging and problematic epidemiological trends, under-resourced national health programs
and persisting health disparaties. It also documents numerous examples of strong, effective health programs based on scientific research carried out or applied in developing countries. Finally, the Commission's report articulates an agenda for action, providing specific recommendations for the
improvement of health in developing countries.