Opening of the 7th Conference on Global Health and Vaccination Research

In his opening speech, the Minister of Health and Care Services presented the Norwegian priorities in global health research. There have been great advancements in global health research in Norway over the last years.

After almost seven years as Foreign Minister, I am more convinced than ever that improving health is crucial for achieving growth, development, equity and stability throughout the world.

Succeeding in local, national and global health ambitions requires the mobilisation of political will across the silos of political decision-making. Over the last years, a body of evidence on health as a driver for economic growth and social development has been built. In this context, the role of research, innovation and access to life saving medicines is cardinal.

Global health and vaccination research (GLOBVAC), a research programme in the Norwegian Research Council, has successfully contributed to enhanced interest for global health research in Norway.

GLOBVAC is extended to 2020 and has an annual budget of 11.3 mill. USD. Its scope is expanded to include health systems research, implementation research, and innovation in technology and methods development.

Norway is a large financial contributor to research programmes on reproductive health, tropical diseases and health systems, all under the auspices of the WHO.

Being a member of the European Research Area, Norway supports global health through the EU 7th Framework Programme on health research and participates in the development of the second phase of the European and Development Countries Clinical Trials Programme on HIV, malaria and tuberculosis in Africa South of the Sahara.

Global health research was recently classified as a particularly strong research area in Norway in a nationwide evaluation of biological, medical and health research.

Norwegian Forum for Global Health Research, a network of researchers and research units, arranges annual conferences and stimulates to increased internationalisation and networking. Norwegian research institutions have a long tradition in research collaboration and capacity building on global health.

Thanks to each one of you for your contributions.

Norway will maintain its focus on global health, both as a funder and as an engaged partner.

There are three challenges in global health which call for new thinking:

First: Only ten percent of global expenditure on health research is devoted to health problems that mainly affect the poorest 90 percent of the world's population. Prioritising research that benefit all people around the world and contributing to capacity building may balance this 10/90-gap. Access to life saving medicines is critical. Norway will continue to support Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) and UNITAID, both examples of innovative finance mechanisms for improving research and development and access to medicines.

The second item that calls for new thinking is new technologies and global health needs. Today's revolution in Life Sciences provides us with enormous opportunities. But at the same time we must ensure that this revolution does not create even greater inequalities in access to health care.

There is a contrast between personalised medicine that is emerging in the developed world, and the continuing need for mass vaccination to prevent common diseases in the developing world.

Finally, inefficient use of resources is a third challenge. The WHO has estimated that from 20 to 40 percent of all health spending is currently wasted through inefficiency. To generate more health from each investment is a goal in the global health architecture. This is where innovation makes its contribution.

Lastly, Gahr Støre promoted global health research as a source for knowledge-based policy. Through the Norwegian representation in the Executive Board in the WHO, Norway will support the organisation's role in setting global health policy, norms and standards for global health governance.

The WHO research for health strategy serves as a tool for strengthening the conduct and use of health research. Norway share and advocate its five goals: capacity building, setting priorities, standards for good practice, translation of research into evidence, and research management, collaboration and governance. In the Norwegian WHO-strategy global health research is one of five prioritised areas. Global health research informing health policy is highlighted in a white paper on global health in foreign affairs and international development, presented by the Norwegian government this year.

The advancements in global health research need to be capitalised in order to maintain momentum.