The Asian Voice in building equity in health for development – from the Asian Forum for Health Research, Manila, February 2000

The Asian Forum for Health Research convened in Manila, the Philippines, in February 2000 to determine how best to create a new paradigm for health research in Asia. The forum was organized as an ‘open university of research for equity in health development’ to define the new paradigm and to identify methods for building a dynamic and collaborative architecture to more effectively link the nations and region of Asia with global stakeholders in health research. It was also to: determine Asian actions required to enhance leadership functions for innovative health research management; develop and disseminate tools and methodologies needed to accomplish essential tasks; establish collaborative networks within developing countries/regions to ensure efforts are not duplicated and international inputs are not monopolized; and use new information and communication technologies to integrate the process and contents of health research with equity in health development. Results of the forum’s review of issues were presented and discussed at the International Conference on Health Research for Development, held in October 2000 in Bangkok, Thailand.