From practice research to public policy - The Ministerial Summit on Health Research

OBJECTIVE: To report on the outcomes of discussions on the role of research in the improvement of population health that took place at the Ministerial Summit on Health Research. DATA SOURCES: Information was gathered from presentations and discussions at the Ministerial Summit on Health Research conducted in Mexico City November 16-20, 2004. DATA SYNTHESIS: Strategies to strengthen health systems through closer collaboration between researchers and policy makers were debated. Consideration was given to persisting inequalities in health research, including the 10/90 gap (10% of health research expenditure is devoted to diseases responsible for 90% of the world's disease burden), the "know-do" gap (the gap between research knowledge and professional practice), and the divide in access to health information. Adopting measures to address human resource shortages was seen as critical. Participants at the Summit issued "The Mexico Statement on Health Research." CONCLUSIONS: All stakeholders must develop the political will to share information, resources, and experiences to ensure that practice research and public policy develop in accordance with patients' needs.