Poverty-related and neglected diseases (PRNDs) account for the world’s most deadly diseases. It is estimated that diseases such as HIV & AIDS, malaria, and Tuberculosis account for an estimated 13.7 million deaths worldwide each year – the equivalent of a 1000 passenger jets crashing each week and killing all of their passengers! Given the devastation these diseases wreak on families, communities and nations, one would expect that anything that could change this situation would be well funded – after all, these are not just diseases of low- and middle-income countries, they have the potential to affect all of us at any time.
However, the latest G-FINDER report – which assesses funding for research into poverty-related and neglected diseases (PRNDs) and is set to be launched today by Policy Cures – has revealed a mixed reaction for funding towards the elimination of these deadly diseases in 2013.
The report shows that funding has fallen by 193 million US-dollars from the previous year; the majority of which resulting from a reduction in funding by the US government, as well as a continuing decline in financial support for R&D into poverty-related and neglected diseases (PRNDs) by the pharmaceutical industry. The latter contributed just 12 percent of global funding for this field.
But it wasn’t all negative news. There are reasons for optimism in the report, with funding increases made by a number of international donors. These include increases in spending on R&D by the European Commission (up 18 percent), and the United Kingdom. In particular, the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) has been actively supporting work in the area of R&D, for example, in recognising the potential of new mechanisms to stimulate advances in research and the development of new medicines, vaccines and other vitally important medical interventions. During the reporting period DfID announced a new five-year funding stream for Product-Development-Partnerships (PDPs) – organisations set up for the sole purpose of stimulating the creation of new diagnostics, preventives, and treatments for PRNDs. The first increase in this area since 2008, it is a vital area of investment as PDPs have been responsible for the development of 70 percent of all new neglected disease drugs and vaccines over the past 14 years.
So, where are the results of this funding over the years? What can we expect from increased funding?
Increased funding for R&D for PRNDS has led to a huge number of progresses in the field of global health, not to mind the countless lives that it has saved. In total, TB mortality has fallen by over 40% since 1990. Malaria deaths are down by over a third, which is especially heartening considering that the majority of deaths are those of children under five. AIDS related deaths have also fallen drastically with treatment averting 700,000 deaths per year. And these are just the most well-known diseases. For the less famous diseases such as Chagas disease, trachoma, dengue, etc, there have been steady improvements in the creation of new vaccines and treatments.
None of these improvements would have happened without investing in R&D. With current and future generations at stake, now is the time to increase investment, not back away from it.
PS: in case you missed it, DSW launched a new campaign titled “Let’s Save Lives” which calls for renewed national and European commitment and funding for in the fight against PRNDs. Sign the pledge and join us now! www.letssavelives.org
