The Bamako Ministerial Forum called for funders and development agencies “to better align, coordinate, and harmonize the global health research architecture and its governance through the rationalization of existing organizations, to improve coherence and impact, and to increase efficiencies and equity”. What might this rationalization actually involve?

An article in the Lancet has proposed that six research-related organizations are merged. (The article was summarized on TropIKA.net).

Is this a reasonable suggestion or would it be taking rationalization too far? Would there be opposition from the bodies that the writers of the article want to see merged? Would such a big new organization be too powerful or be bogged down by its own bureaucracy?

The proposal certainly needs to be discussed and nothing should be done until there has been a proper debate. TropIKA.net offers an excellent forum for such debate. Let us know what you think.