Spending on neglected diseases has increased, says report
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
A substantial increase in global spending on health research over the last decade has boosted funds available for neglected diseases that mainly affect poor, developing countries, the Global Fund for Health Research said in its annual report.
The report, published this month, found that spending on health research worldwide has increased by about 50% since 1998, helped by large donations from governments and charitable foundations for diseases that affect poor people, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and dengue fever.
Stephen Matlin, head of the Geneva based organisation, said that the fund estimated in 2001 that $73.5bn (?1.5bn; �61.1) had been spent on health research worldwide in 1998. This year it found that more than $100bn had been spent in 2001.
In contrast, spending in 1987 totalled $30bn, according to calculations made in 1990. He said it was extremely difficult and took a long time to calculate the figures but that the fund had come up with reliable estimates.
The report found that the public sector accounted for about 50% of that funding, the drug industry about 42%, and charitable foundations 8%.
Mr Matlin said the world抯 largest single funder of health research funder, the National Institutes of Health in the United States, had doubled spending in the last five years to $27.4bn and that the fight against neglected diseases had benefited from this too.
He said less than 10% of total health research funding was spent on diseases that mainly affect poor people but that the signs were that the gap—which the Global Fund has dubbed "10/90 gap"—may be narrowing.
The report found that even developing countries were spending more on health research. Brazil and Cuba were spending nearly 2% of their total health expenditure on health research. He said India had committed itself to spending a similar percentage by 2010.
Mr Matlin said that more governments in developing countries were starting to realise that health was not only the result of economic progress but also a means for achieving it.
"More people now realise health is the best economic investment a government can make," Mr Matlin said. He added: "Health is not a consequence of development but a key factor in achieving development."
Mr Matlin said the number of private-public partnerships—in which humanitarian agencies, non-governmental organisations, and corporations team up to create new and more effective and affordable drugs for diseases of the poor—was growing fast.
Investments from such partnerships totalled some $200m last year, with some of the largest pledges to date coming from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.(Geneva Fiona Fleck)
The report, published this month, found that spending on health research worldwide has increased by about 50% since 1998, helped by large donations from governments and charitable foundations for diseases that affect poor people, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and dengue fever.
Stephen Matlin, head of the Geneva based organisation, said that the fund estimated in 2001 that $73.5bn (?1.5bn; �61.1) had been spent on health research worldwide in 1998. This year it found that more than $100bn had been spent in 2001.
In contrast, spending in 1987 totalled $30bn, according to calculations made in 1990. He said it was extremely difficult and took a long time to calculate the figures but that the fund had come up with reliable estimates.
The report found that the public sector accounted for about 50% of that funding, the drug industry about 42%, and charitable foundations 8%.
Mr Matlin said the world抯 largest single funder of health research funder, the National Institutes of Health in the United States, had doubled spending in the last five years to $27.4bn and that the fight against neglected diseases had benefited from this too.
He said less than 10% of total health research funding was spent on diseases that mainly affect poor people but that the signs were that the gap—which the Global Fund has dubbed "10/90 gap"—may be narrowing.
The report found that even developing countries were spending more on health research. Brazil and Cuba were spending nearly 2% of their total health expenditure on health research. He said India had committed itself to spending a similar percentage by 2010.
Mr Matlin said that more governments in developing countries were starting to realise that health was not only the result of economic progress but also a means for achieving it.
"More people now realise health is the best economic investment a government can make," Mr Matlin said. He added: "Health is not a consequence of development but a key factor in achieving development."
Mr Matlin said the number of private-public partnerships—in which humanitarian agencies, non-governmental organisations, and corporations team up to create new and more effective and affordable drugs for diseases of the poor—was growing fast.
Investments from such partnerships totalled some $200m last year, with some of the largest pledges to date coming from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.(Geneva Fiona Fleck)