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The role of research for sustainable paediatric cardiac programmes in developing countries*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2013

Constantine D. Mavroudis*
Affiliation:
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Constantine Mavroudis
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins Children's Heart Surgery, Florida Hospital for Children, Orlando, Florida, United States of America
Jeffrey P. Jacobs
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins Children's Heart Surgery, All Children's Hospital and Florida Hospital for Children, Saint Petersburg, Tampa, and Orlando, Florida, United States of America
Allison Siegel
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins Children's Heart Surgery, Florida Hospital for Children, Orlando, Florida, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: Dr Constantine Mavroudis, MD, Congenital Heart Institute, Johns Hopkins Children's Heart Surgery, Florida Hospital for Children 2501 N Orange Ave, Suite 540, Orlando, Florida 32804, United States of America. Tel: +1 407 303 3692; Fax: +1 407 303 3634; E-mail: Constantine.Mavroudis.MD@flhosp.org

Abstract

Significant challenges face developing countries as a result of the maldistribution of access to healthcare throughout the world, specifically access to paediatric cardiac care. Sustainable paediatric cardiac programmes must be established in developing countries to provide care to all children with congenital heart disease. Education and research are essential components to sustainable paediatric cardiac programmes in developing countries to define local problems and the incidence of disease, and to generate solutions thereto related. Research can contribute to developing local expertise, improving technology, providing opportunities for local talent, generating financial resources, enhancing the dignity of people, and the facilitating resolution of health problems throughout the world. Clinical trials conducted in developing countries should meet the same ethical standards as trials based in developed countries.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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Footnotes

*

Presented at the 12th Annual International Symposium on Congenital Heart Disease: Special Focus on Common Arterial Trunk and Transposition of the Great Arteries. St Petersburg, Florida. February, 17–21, 2012. Presented at the 7th Global Forum on Humanitarian Medicine in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Geneva, Switzerland. June, 20–22, 2011.

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