Negative effects of global health initiatives on developing countries' health systems exaggerated, review shows

"An evaluation of the scientific evidence on the effects of global health initiatives on the health systems of developing countries concludes that the harmful effects have been exaggerated," according to a press release from the Royal Society of Medicine. The systematic review, published on Wednesday in JRSM Short Reports, "found that much of the research literature did not fulfill the requirements of rigorous scientific evidence," according to the press release. "The systematic review identified 24 studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals between 2002 and 2009 that have commented on adverse effects on health systems arising from investments by the Global Fund," the press release states, adding, "All the studies evaluated contained only seemingly anecdotal evidence or authors' perceptions or interpretations of circumstances" (10/24).