736 



TABLE 5.-N1H SPECIAL FOREIGN CURRENCY PROGRAM' 



THE RISE AND DECLINE OF PHS AND NIH GRANTS ^N 

 INTERNATIONAL HEALTH I 



PHS and NIH awarded a limited number of grants to institutions 

 in foreign countries and to international organizations between 1944 

 and 1960. The basic Public Health Service Act of July 1, 1944, was 

 interpreted as providing sufficient legislative authority to empower 

 the Secretary and the Surgeon General to conduct and support re- 

 search overseas during that period. However, on July 12, 1960, new 

 statutory authority for international health activities was provided : 



July 12, 1960 — Recognizing the importance of cooperation 

 in international health research, Congress passed the Inter- 

 national Health Research Act. Under the new law the Surgeon 

 General was authorized to establish and make grants for 

 fellowships in the United States and participating foreign 

 countries; make grants or loans of equipment and other ma- 

 terials to participating foreign countries for use by public or 

 nonprofit institutions and agencies; participate in interna- 

 tional health meetings, conferences, and other activities ; and 

 facilitate the interchange of research scientists and experts 

 between the United States and participating foreign coun- 

 tries. ( Public Law 86-610, 74 Stat. L. 364. ) ^'^ 



For several years following the passage of this act, PHS and NIH 

 international activities of all types were increased. 



Two additional programs have to do with research and training 

 performed overseas. The programs differ primarily in the nature of 

 the performer. In the Research and Trainees Abroad Program, the 

 performer is an American scientist who goes to an institution in a 

 foreign country for additional research and training. The institution 

 is selected by the applicant and is usually located in a developed nation 

 where biomedical research is well established and where the institution 

 has won recognition of excellence in research. In the other program, of 

 Research and Training Grants Awarded to Foreign Institutions, the 

 research is performed by foreign nationals in these institutions. Once 

 again, although many nations are recipients of these awards, the bias 

 is in favor of the dei^eloped countries and the work is heavily research- 

 oriented. These programs have also been declining. For example, the 

 research grants awarded by NIH and the Bureau of State Services to 

 foreign institutions in FY 1963 were 1,001 in number at a total cost 



1-9 As summarized in the "NIH Almanac, 1970," op. clt., page 16. 



