SciDev.Net

Worldwide, cancer kills more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB put together. In developing countries where chronic diseases are now growing alongside infectious diseases, new strategies need to be developed.

This article outlines how to develop an effective cancer strategy in African countries on the basis of discussions at the recent African Cancer Reform convention. A cancer control plan clearly needs to take into account African countries' financial constraints and the authors outline six key essentials that would offer most health gain for money invested. These are: setting up cancer intelligence units to collect data on cancer incidence; controlling tobacco use; early diagnosis and prevention; offering treatment wherever possible; palliative care when treatment is no longer useful; and training and educating future generations of African oncologists.

Developed countries can offer crucial expertise and experience and collaborate on cancer information networks. Educating local communities about a disease that is relatively new but growing quickly will also be essential to stop it spiralling when many cancers are preventable or treatable when detected early enough.

In 2003, the Gates foundation infused new vigour into global health efforts by declaring that the 21st century's "grand challenges" included developing new vaccines and overcoming drug resistance. This new grand challenges initiative, launched by a collaboration of top global chronic disease experts, identifies priorities in tackling diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and explains in detail how research should be directed to meet each challenge (a challenge was defined as a critical barrier that if removed would help solve an important health problem).

To distill the range of opinions and priorities, the coordinators sought input from 155 stakeholders from different countries and disciplines. The initiative requires the participation of agencies like the WHO, individual governments, and non-governmental organisations as well as civil society and business if it is to succeed. The authors point out that the Gates initiative was linked to large funding, whereas this project will rely on multiple funding agencies to coordinate on these priorities.

Global health experts have watched with increasing alarm as the waistlines of people in developing countries have started to widen with the adoption of a "Western" lifestyle. Obesity is of such concern because of its heightened risks for other diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

In developing countries, the number of people with diabetes is set to rise to 228 million by 2030 from 84 million estimated in 2000. The link between obesity and diabetes is so strong because obesity renders individuals unable to properly process glucose — about 90% of type 2 diabetes is due to being overweight. Obesity and diabetes also raise the risk for cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. Diabetic nephropathy was the most common cause of end-stage renal disease in 9 out of 10 Asian countries, say the authors, which could be deadly for countries unable to cope with the health repercussions.

This policy brief, prepared for the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), addresses the new agendas for policy in agricultural research as well as the institutional innovations that are emerging to address these agendas. The brief begins by outlining the origin of existing agricultural research systems in developing countries, and their original objectives. It then highlights the new policy agendas in agricultural research, such as poverty, environment, stakeholder participation, public-private partnerships and balanced research agendas, covering both novel research and efforts to adapt to existing technologies. It then addresses the types of policy responses and institutional innovations that have emerged in response to these new policy issues. Finally, the paper suggests how to analyse the institutional roles and relationships in agricultural research, and looks into the possible development of an Indian agricultural innovation system.

This discussion paper examines the impact of policy intruments to stregthen the demand of technology on technological learning and research and development investments in industry. It focuses specifically on advances in vaccines technology in India. The central argument is that national and international procurement should be reconsidered to ensure both an adequate supply and positive technological development. Its conclusion is that procurement programmes of international organisations rather than national procurement policies provides an opportunity for improvements in both the technology and institutions involved, although gaps in capability may remain.

This policy brief discusses what governments of countries in the OECD are doing and can do to guarantee that science and technology continue to contribute to economic and social development, while minimising potential risks and taking into account the needs and interests of a growing number of stakeholders in government, academia, industry and civil society.

The Technology Policy Brief Series is an ongoing publication from the Institute for New Technologies of the United Nations University (UNU-INTECH). The series addresses key policy issues surrounding science and technology in developing countries. Individual policy briefs focus on specific topics and provide a useful and updated overview of relevant issues and questions faced by policy-makers and other stakeholders in developing countries. Each policy brief is the result of collaborative efforts between experts working on the issues in both developing and developed countries.

The series consists of eight briefs on the following topics: the interrelationships between the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity; north-south partnerships in agricultural biotechnology; ICTs for innovation and the policy implications for developing countries; the role of transnational corporations in learning and innovation in developing countries and the implications of the Trade Related Investment Measures (TRIMs) Agreement; energy and the environment; bio-pharmaceuticals and health; agricultural biotechnology; and technology policy issues at the World Trade Organization.

The Technopolicy Brief Series is published by the African Technology Policy Studies Network and discusses issues with relevance for research, development and innovation policy.

Policy briefs address topics that include the justification of technology policy, the impact of developing intellectual property rights regimes in developing countries, and science in a context of globalisation. The briefs also address specific issues and cases studies in African countries.