Global Health Research Programme Proposal, 2006-10. Report from a Planning Committee

Less than 10% of the amount invested in health research globally is devoted to research on health problems that account for 90% of the global disease burden. In Norway this fraction is estimated to be only 5%. To reduce this gap, the planning committee proposes that the Norwegian government establishes a research programme for global health research, by an allocation of funds through the Research Council of Norway: NOK 20 million in 2006 increasing to NOK 52 million in 2010. This is necessary to bring Norway to the average international level in global health research. The programme will prioritize support to the best research groups in order to build sustainable research institutions with the potential of reaching the international forefront.