A group of African science leaders, writing in a commentary in Nature Health, argues that the continent must build and finance its own medical innovations to improve health and reduce dependence on uncertain international funding. The inaugural cohort of the Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellowship says decades of underinvestment have weakened Africa's capacity to produce clinical solutions for a large disease burden.
The fellows warn that an "overreliance" on dwindling international funds has often let non-African actors set research and development priorities. They call for increased national investment to back private-sector led pharmaceutical R&D, together with clear accountability. The report notes that gross domestic expenditure on R&D averaged just 0.33 per cent in 2023, despite commitments to invest at least 1 per cent of GDP.
The fellowship, established in 2021 with funding from the Gates Foundation, supports African researchers to strengthen research and innovation systems. Fellows come from countries across the continent. The authors say recent US aid cuts and other global health disruptions make Africa-led strategies urgent and recommend reforms to move from knowledge generation to usable health products.
Difficult words
- commentary — short article giving an opinion
- cohort — group of people in same program
- fellowship — a funded programme that supports researchers
- underinvestment — not enough money given over time
- clinical — connected with medical care for patients
- accountability — responsibility to explain decisions or actions
- expenditure — amount of money spent by an organisation
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Discussion questions
- How could more national investment change medical research and products in African countries?
- What are the risks and benefits of relying on international funding for health research in your view?
- What steps could governments and private companies take to make research results become usable health products?
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