Date: 17/05/2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title:Mangena: Keynote address at Financing of Health Science Education conference
Keynote address by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the national conference on the Financing of Health Science Education at the University of Cape Town
Vice Chancellor, Professor Ndebele
Members of the Committee of Deans of Health Faculties,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
The crucial role played by science and technology in the world’s struggle against hunger, disease, environmental degradation and conflict is no longer in doubt. And this morning we hope to throw some light on the relationship between the Department of Science and Technology and the Health Sciences Education.
South African is at the crossroads. Some of our best researchers are involved in globally competitive cutting edge medical research, yet many of our people are afflicted by poverty-related diseases. We need to address this situation as a matter of urgency. The solution to some of these imperatives is intertwined with the pressing need to develop more of our young people into health specialists, professionals, care-givers, and innovative researchers of the future.
The Department of Science and Technology has developed a new strategic framework, which was approved by Cabinet in October 2004. This framework has classified the technology-related services, and research and development activities supported by government into three basic types:
* Early stage, or highly cross-sectoral generic technology or knowledge platforms such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and the hydrogen economy, requiring a high degree of research and experimental development, for which the Department of Science and Technology has direct responsibility;
* Focussed, sectoral and relatively mature technology domains such as, veterinary science and hydrology, which are primarily the responsibility of sector-specific departments, where the Department of Science and Technology plays a supportive role; and * Standard technology-based services such as geological survey and forensic science, for which sector-specific departments are responsible.
Hence, the Department of Science and Technology will focus on cross-cutting science and technology areas and human capital development.
The development of human capital is a fundamental pillar to the success of the National Research and Development (R&D) Strategy, which was adopted by Cabinet in 2002. For human resource development to flourish, we need a sustainable strategy, which is anchored and nurtured by Centres and Networks of Excellence. South Africa plays a leading role in New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the establishment of such Centres and Networks of Excellence form an integral part of Africa’s strategy towards achieving the objectives of an African Renaissance. The investment for developing these regional and continental research networks is critical to the development of medical education and training that is globally competitive and relevant to addressing Africa’s disease burden.
For example, the Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis (TB) Research, which is a collaborative network involving the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Stellenbosch, is doing research on all aspects of TB diagnosis, testing and treatment, both from a molecular and a clinical point of view, and genomics and proteomic studies of the TB bacterium and its interaction in humans. South Africa is facing a serious TB problem. She has the third highest incidence rate and second highest mortality rate due to TB in the world. That is why this disease has been declared a national health emergency.
Although some improvements could be made in controlling TB through reform of existing programmes, it is widely acknowledged that a quantum leap in the development of quality tools for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of TB is necessary if there is to be any hope at all of eradicating this devastating disease.
The AIDS and TB co-epidemic plaguing this country has exacerbated the problem enormously, and an important programme that was initiated by the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Health and Eskom to respond to this challenge was the establishment of the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) in 1999. SAAVI was mandated to develop, and test an appropriate HIV vaccine for Southern Africa.
This initiative has grown from a small core group of researchers into a large biotechnology consortium involving approximately 180 people who work on various aspects of developing and testing novel HIV vaccines. The positive spin-offs are the development of a large number of high calibre researchers in biotechnology, and on increase in the number of novel treatment techniques that can be applied to other medical conditions.
Thus far, SAAVI has developed three candidate vaccines that have now entered the regulatory process in preparation for trials. Human clinical trials with the DNA vaccine began in 2004. The SAAVI-NIH development team completed the pre-Investigational New Drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, which was the first ever from a developing country to be lodged with the FDA.
Biotechnology, which is one of the key technology platforms of the National R&D Strategy, forms the major thrust of cutting edge science at our universities. For example, areas of exciting and innovative research in health sciences in South Africa include a project by the Medical Research Council, which uses bone morphogenetic proteins to grow new bone faster by using the same, but enhanced, mechanisms as the body uses.
Since the early days of our bilateral relations with the United States in science and technology, when the area of health was prioritised, there are now 112 NIH projects taking place in partnership with South African institutions and research teams. We are actively developing these links, together with the links to 40 other countries with which we have bilateral agreements in science and technology.
Poverty-related diseases - with TB, HIV and AIDS and malaria being the front-runners - have a new focus within the European Union (EU) as reflected in the 6th Framework Programme of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Programme on Poverty Related Diseases. This shows a commitment from the EU to enhance the quality of life of people in developing countries. Moreover, these partnerships will also yield more than new treatment modalities. They will provide an ideal opportunity of developing our researchers through collaborative work with European scientists, and strengthening our own national system of innovation.
We must give priority to the increased use of our indigenous knowledge within all streams of these scientific developments in South Africa. This is clearly shown in the possibility of extracting novel anti-malarials from traditional medicines, and the commencement of clinical trials in AIDS patients using traditional medicines that are recognised immune modulators.
In 2002 to 2003, the total health related research expenditure funded through the Science Councils was approximately R350 million. It is estimated that less than 5% of the total budget is spent on clinical research. In South Africa, clinical medicine is the strongest discipline in the science and technology system, having produced 7550 publications in the last ten years.
Despite clinical medicine being our most productive research area, South Africa is rated at 29th in the world. She is rated lower than India and Brazil which are rated 22nd and 23rd, respectively. The number of sector publications has declined by 12% over the past decade.
This picture is further complicated by the fact that the majority of Clinical Research currently undertaken in South Africa is funded through drug trials sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. Consequently, topics such as best therapies for patients, understanding disease progression, introduction of more effective surgical techniques, and so on, do not get sufficient attention in the present mix of funding instruments. This is the crisis that my Department is tasked to resolve as it impacts negatively on our full understanding of health issues, and on our ability to galvanise government response in an integrated manner.
A critical component of health science education is research. The Director-General of the World Health Organisation aptly depicts science as the indisputable ally in managing the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS, malaria, TB and chronic diseases, in addition to meeting the health-related Millennium Development Goals.
Although there have been many advances and discoveries in the past few decades, there is also a sense in which there still exists a gap between today’s scientific advances and their applications - between what we know and what is actually being done. My department is thus engaged in a process of establishing a joint task team with the Committee of Deans of Health Faculties, and the departments of Health and Education in order to build an understanding of the challenges in clinical medical research, and to develop a relevant corrective strategy.
The need for producing new knowledge becomes increasingly pressing as Medicine becomes more specialised and our world more complex. This is the call to which the medical fraternity needs to respond, in order to confront new frontiers and imperatives in this field. The challenge is in your court, ours is to support your endeavours.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
17 May 2005
Source: Department of Science and Technology
Title:Mangena: Keynote address at Financing of Health Science Education conference
Keynote address by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mr Mosibudi Mangena, at the national conference on the Financing of Health Science Education at the University of Cape Town
Vice Chancellor, Professor Ndebele
Members of the Committee of Deans of Health Faculties,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen
The crucial role played by science and technology in the world’s struggle against hunger, disease, environmental degradation and conflict is no longer in doubt. And this morning we hope to throw some light on the relationship between the Department of Science and Technology and the Health Sciences Education.
South African is at the crossroads. Some of our best researchers are involved in globally competitive cutting edge medical research, yet many of our people are afflicted by poverty-related diseases. We need to address this situation as a matter of urgency. The solution to some of these imperatives is intertwined with the pressing need to develop more of our young people into health specialists, professionals, care-givers, and innovative researchers of the future.
The Department of Science and Technology has developed a new strategic framework, which was approved by Cabinet in October 2004. This framework has classified the technology-related services, and research and development activities supported by government into three basic types:
* Early stage, or highly cross-sectoral generic technology or knowledge platforms such as biotechnology, nanotechnology and the hydrogen economy, requiring a high degree of research and experimental development, for which the Department of Science and Technology has direct responsibility;
* Focussed, sectoral and relatively mature technology domains such as, veterinary science and hydrology, which are primarily the responsibility of sector-specific departments, where the Department of Science and Technology plays a supportive role; and * Standard technology-based services such as geological survey and forensic science, for which sector-specific departments are responsible.
Hence, the Department of Science and Technology will focus on cross-cutting science and technology areas and human capital development.
The development of human capital is a fundamental pillar to the success of the National Research and Development (R&D) Strategy, which was adopted by Cabinet in 2002. For human resource development to flourish, we need a sustainable strategy, which is anchored and nurtured by Centres and Networks of Excellence. South Africa plays a leading role in New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), and the establishment of such Centres and Networks of Excellence form an integral part of Africa’s strategy towards achieving the objectives of an African Renaissance. The investment for developing these regional and continental research networks is critical to the development of medical education and training that is globally competitive and relevant to addressing Africa’s disease burden.
For example, the Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis (TB) Research, which is a collaborative network involving the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Stellenbosch, is doing research on all aspects of TB diagnosis, testing and treatment, both from a molecular and a clinical point of view, and genomics and proteomic studies of the TB bacterium and its interaction in humans. South Africa is facing a serious TB problem. She has the third highest incidence rate and second highest mortality rate due to TB in the world. That is why this disease has been declared a national health emergency.
Although some improvements could be made in controlling TB through reform of existing programmes, it is widely acknowledged that a quantum leap in the development of quality tools for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of TB is necessary if there is to be any hope at all of eradicating this devastating disease.
The AIDS and TB co-epidemic plaguing this country has exacerbated the problem enormously, and an important programme that was initiated by the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Health and Eskom to respond to this challenge was the establishment of the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative (SAAVI) in 1999. SAAVI was mandated to develop, and test an appropriate HIV vaccine for Southern Africa.
This initiative has grown from a small core group of researchers into a large biotechnology consortium involving approximately 180 people who work on various aspects of developing and testing novel HIV vaccines. The positive spin-offs are the development of a large number of high calibre researchers in biotechnology, and on increase in the number of novel treatment techniques that can be applied to other medical conditions.
Thus far, SAAVI has developed three candidate vaccines that have now entered the regulatory process in preparation for trials. Human clinical trials with the DNA vaccine began in 2004. The SAAVI-NIH development team completed the pre-Investigational New Drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003, which was the first ever from a developing country to be lodged with the FDA.
Biotechnology, which is one of the key technology platforms of the National R&D Strategy, forms the major thrust of cutting edge science at our universities. For example, areas of exciting and innovative research in health sciences in South Africa include a project by the Medical Research Council, which uses bone morphogenetic proteins to grow new bone faster by using the same, but enhanced, mechanisms as the body uses.
Since the early days of our bilateral relations with the United States in science and technology, when the area of health was prioritised, there are now 112 NIH projects taking place in partnership with South African institutions and research teams. We are actively developing these links, together with the links to 40 other countries with which we have bilateral agreements in science and technology.
Poverty-related diseases - with TB, HIV and AIDS and malaria being the front-runners - have a new focus within the European Union (EU) as reflected in the 6th Framework Programme of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trial Programme on Poverty Related Diseases. This shows a commitment from the EU to enhance the quality of life of people in developing countries. Moreover, these partnerships will also yield more than new treatment modalities. They will provide an ideal opportunity of developing our researchers through collaborative work with European scientists, and strengthening our own national system of innovation.
We must give priority to the increased use of our indigenous knowledge within all streams of these scientific developments in South Africa. This is clearly shown in the possibility of extracting novel anti-malarials from traditional medicines, and the commencement of clinical trials in AIDS patients using traditional medicines that are recognised immune modulators.
In 2002 to 2003, the total health related research expenditure funded through the Science Councils was approximately R350 million. It is estimated that less than 5% of the total budget is spent on clinical research. In South Africa, clinical medicine is the strongest discipline in the science and technology system, having produced 7550 publications in the last ten years.
Despite clinical medicine being our most productive research area, South Africa is rated at 29th in the world. She is rated lower than India and Brazil which are rated 22nd and 23rd, respectively. The number of sector publications has declined by 12% over the past decade.
This picture is further complicated by the fact that the majority of Clinical Research currently undertaken in South Africa is funded through drug trials sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry. Consequently, topics such as best therapies for patients, understanding disease progression, introduction of more effective surgical techniques, and so on, do not get sufficient attention in the present mix of funding instruments. This is the crisis that my Department is tasked to resolve as it impacts negatively on our full understanding of health issues, and on our ability to galvanise government response in an integrated manner.
A critical component of health science education is research. The Director-General of the World Health Organisation aptly depicts science as the indisputable ally in managing the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS, malaria, TB and chronic diseases, in addition to meeting the health-related Millennium Development Goals.
Although there have been many advances and discoveries in the past few decades, there is also a sense in which there still exists a gap between today’s scientific advances and their applications - between what we know and what is actually being done. My department is thus engaged in a process of establishing a joint task team with the Committee of Deans of Health Faculties, and the departments of Health and Education in order to build an understanding of the challenges in clinical medical research, and to develop a relevant corrective strategy.
The need for producing new knowledge becomes increasingly pressing as Medicine becomes more specialised and our world more complex. This is the call to which the medical fraternity needs to respond, in order to confront new frontiers and imperatives in this field. The challenge is in your court, ours is to support your endeavours.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
17 May 2005
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