The Mexico Summit on Health Research 2004
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《英国医生杂志》
EDITOR—Abbasi's editorial on the Mexico Summit on Health Research 2004 aptly emphasises the significance of formulating and implementing national health research agendas.1 Although this is essential for rich and poor governments alike, it is even more imperative for developing countries to devise appropriate research strategies to reduce child mortality, prevent infectious diseases, and combat AIDS. The medical communities in these countries should take an active part and adopt reforms within the medical system to face the above challenges.
Unlike in developed countries, research is neither integrated into the medical curriculum nor considered to be part of routine medical practice. Medical students seldom have the opportunity to undertake research; the training solely emphasises providing health care to individual patients but fails to appreciate the significance of research in enhancing the wellbeing of society. There is no structured career path to encourage clinicians to undertake medical research, clinician-scientists being crucial for translating basic science research into clinical practice—"from bench to bedside."2
Medical research is rarely given a high priority in the government's healthcare planning. Because of governments' reluctance to support research, it is mainly undertaken by pharmaceutical companies and selected private institutions; in such instances, financial gains may take precedence to the health of the nation. The research undertaken in a few government institutions may be hampered by political interference and stifling bureaucracy. Capital investment in new facilities and high technology equipment appeals to politicians, even when they are the least cost effective and seldom benefit public health.
Governments should strive to apportion a substantial amount of their national budget towards medical research, mainly public health; this is crucial for the health and wellbeing of present and future citizens. The medical community, through its representative organisations, in conjunction with the government, should create appropriate regulatory bodies and develop national guidelines to encourage medical research in an ethical and transparent manner. The medical community has a duty to guide the government to develop and implement meaningful research strategies and national health policies.
Stuart Enoch, PhD surgical research
Wound Healing Research Unit, Cardiff University, Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4UJ enochstuart@hotmail.com
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Abbasi K. The Mexico Summit on Health Research 2004. BMJ 2004;329: 1249-50. (27 November.)
Kreeger K. From bench to bedside. Nature 2003;424: 1090-1.
Unlike in developed countries, research is neither integrated into the medical curriculum nor considered to be part of routine medical practice. Medical students seldom have the opportunity to undertake research; the training solely emphasises providing health care to individual patients but fails to appreciate the significance of research in enhancing the wellbeing of society. There is no structured career path to encourage clinicians to undertake medical research, clinician-scientists being crucial for translating basic science research into clinical practice—"from bench to bedside."2
Medical research is rarely given a high priority in the government's healthcare planning. Because of governments' reluctance to support research, it is mainly undertaken by pharmaceutical companies and selected private institutions; in such instances, financial gains may take precedence to the health of the nation. The research undertaken in a few government institutions may be hampered by political interference and stifling bureaucracy. Capital investment in new facilities and high technology equipment appeals to politicians, even when they are the least cost effective and seldom benefit public health.
Governments should strive to apportion a substantial amount of their national budget towards medical research, mainly public health; this is crucial for the health and wellbeing of present and future citizens. The medical community, through its representative organisations, in conjunction with the government, should create appropriate regulatory bodies and develop national guidelines to encourage medical research in an ethical and transparent manner. The medical community has a duty to guide the government to develop and implement meaningful research strategies and national health policies.
Stuart Enoch, PhD surgical research
Wound Healing Research Unit, Cardiff University, Hospital of Wales, Cardiff CF14 4UJ enochstuart@hotmail.com
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Abbasi K. The Mexico Summit on Health Research 2004. BMJ 2004;329: 1249-50. (27 November.)
Kreeger K. From bench to bedside. Nature 2003;424: 1090-1.