Global health research: A priority area at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health?
No! Only 2 + 10 researchers in global health research Because NIPH has a national mandate Research at NIPH is governed to suit national health problems Government funding to NIPH has been reduced since 2002 NIPH permanent staff has been reduced by >20% since 2002
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health 675 employees € 80 mill annual budget Four areas: Infectious disease control, Environmental medicine, Chronic disease epidemiology and Forensic toxicology Surveillance Research Advice Services Vaccine supply Forensic toxicology
However, some strong areas Meningococcal disease Epidemiology, WHO Collaborating Centre Vaccine against group A and W135 Tuberculosis Epidemiology, spread of new ”Beijing” strains Practical public health collaboration With Northwest Russia and Baltic countries (www.epinorth.org) With WHO and EU: e.g. SARS in China, hepatitis E in Darfur, Sudan Other, smaller areas
The way forward NIPH global health research strategy group Collaboration with University of Oslo GLOBINF Master programme in international community health Adjacent areas (NW Russia, Baltic countries) Barents Health Programme EU Public Health Programme EEA financial mechanisms Collaboration with European public health institutes?