Progress is slow in narrowing the health research divide

Progress has been slow in addressing the research needs of the developing world, speakers and delegates at last week's fifth global forum for health research in Geneva conceded.

The aim of the conference was to assess progress in addressing the disparity between the global burden of disease and health research in the world's poorest countries. This is the so called 10/90 gap, whereby only 10% of the estimated yearly £47bn ($70bn) spent on health research is used to research 90% of the world's health problems.

“Things have moved on but maybe not …