We live in an era of inflation — consumer prices, political rhetoric, degree classifications. The recent edition of the BJGP (Jan 2026) reminds us of a similar phenomenon in the number of authors listed on research papers. Do we really need 10 researchers to analyse a GP database on antidepressant prescribing in pregnancy,1 or 15 contributors to conduct a nationwide survey of postural hypotension in general practice?2
The issue is recognised, with multiple factors implicated, including increasing research complexity.3,4 However, it raises an overlooked concern from a societal perspective of the cost-effectiveness of health research programmes in general.
The efficiency of any activity is measured by its output relative to the resources consumed in its production. The utility of health service research output is inherently difficult to quantify, and in many cases marginal. But we can be sure that the resources invested in each research output are rising significantly — a concern against a background of increasing demands on limited healthcare resources.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2026
