Is Research Responding to Health Needs?

Abstract

Comparisons between R&D efforts and WHO estimates of health burden for a given disease suggest substantial misalignments, both at the global and local levels. Some diseases prevalent in low and middle income countries such as malaria or tuberculosis may deserve more R&D investment given their burden. This is also the case for health conditions such as depression or stroke that have a high disease burden in both high and low income countries, yet attract relatively little research. This type of comparative approach between health needs and R&D efforts can be useful when setting priorities in R&D investment. We propose that an appraisal process for health R&D should use more healthcare data to better understand health needs, and should conduct citizen engagement so as to take into account their views on the problems to be addressed and the strategies to tackle them.