[Medical research--are we in earnest?]

The need for extensive medical research in the RSA, with its four major population groups of widely divergent cultures, genetic compositions and developmental stages and living within a greatly varying geographical and climatic environment, is again emphasized. This country with its ills, such as tuberculosis and many other rampant infections and parasitic diseases, differing forms of cancer, high incidence of cardiovascular disease and of accidental death, should be seriously engaged in more meaningful medical research programmes. Despite a favourable governmental attitude towards research and effective and functional organizational structures including the South African Medical Research Council, there is a relatively small medical research community and a much less than optimal research effort. The major restrictions identified are those of the attitudes towards research of the public and the medical profession itself; these are reflected in the official low-priority ranking--12th among the 18 more important socio-economic sectors of research. This has led to a shortage of research manpower and funds.