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II. Policy Development

The important changes occurring in health conditions and health care systems are creating a new demand for knowledge and involving new stakeholders in the framing and implementation of health policies. This, in turn, dictates a need for corresponding changes in the production and dissemination of knowledge.

To share information about possible future LAC policy forums or policy-related activities, please contact the Fogarty Division of International Science Policy, Planning and Evaluation (DISPPE) at 301-496-1491 or by e-mail at ficdisppe@nih.gov. Also, please visit this website for updates about proposed forum topics and dates.

III. Trans-regional Initiatives

Considering the increasingly difficult task of confronting obstacles to sustainable development, international cooperation has ceased to be simply a possibility, and has become a necessity. New crucial factors such as similar objectives (recognizing some major differences as well) of bilateral, regional, and multilateral agencies concerned with health problems among developing countries, and the rapid progress of information technology can facilitate expanded trans-regional cooperation through strategic alliances. In order to obtain more sustainable results regarding trans-regional cooperation, these proposed alliances must:

• Provide regular opportunities for short and long-term training
• Work cooperatively in planning and funding health-related initiatives
• Collect and disseminate data about needs and opportunities in biomedical and behavioral research
• Promote the development of South-South networks for research cooperation