Tag Archives: access to healthcare

Global Health Progress Encourages Global Partnerships on Access to Health Care

Starting this month, members of Congress will be looking closely at U.S. spending as they work with the White House to build the 2012 budget. One area that has come under increased scrutiny is U.S. spending on global health programs. Several groups last week announced a petition (http://www.supportglobalhealth.org/) seeking support for global health spending through the United States Global Health Initiative. Many fear that even flat spending in this area could jeopardize important programs in vaccine research and treatment.

News like this highlights the important role that public-private partnerships play in supporting access to global health care. The Global Health Progress initiative seeks to bring research-based biopharmaceutical companies and global health leaders together to improve access to medicine and health care in the developing world. We are committed to being part of the effort to create a sustainable health care system that includes improving access to health care and continuing medical innovation and progress for all people.

Research-based biopharmaceutical companies and their partners around the world are working to implement sustainable solutions and strengthen the health care delivery systems so they can meet tomorrow’s challenges. Millions of people lack access to essential medicines due to factors including incomplete delivery systems, lack of training for health personnel, lack of infrastructure and the cost of treatments. We must address the underlying barriers to health care, such as weak and fragmented health systems, limited health care personnel and inadequate resources for scaling up proven solutions. The innovative research and development (R&D) of new drugs and vaccines is a critical component of improving health care and combating epidemics in developing countries.

Through meaningful public-private partnerships with others in the field, including policymakers in the developed and developing world, multi-lateral institutions, non-governmental organizations, and academia we can help shape sustainable solutions that improve the health of all people.

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Global Health Progress Fact Sheet Projects China Will Become One of World’s Major Biopharmaceutical Players

Data revealed in Global Health Progress’ (GHP) new fact sheet shows that China is projected to become one of the world’s major biopharmaceutical players, along with the U.S., Europe, and Japan, in the next fifteen years. This projection is based on China’s commitment to improving access to healthcare by expanding its biotechnology sector, increasing its exportation of biopharmaceuticals and investing in pharmaceutical research and development (R&D).

China has one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a gross domestic product of more than $8 trillion. Its biotechnology sector has become a bright spot in the Asia Pacific region and the world markets, with an impressive average annual growth rate of 19.4% between 2000 and 2005, and is anticipated to become the world’s third-largest pharmaceutical market in 2011, a major increase over its #8 rank in 2000

Part of China’s successful growth is due to its decision to improve access to healthcare by increasing exports of biopharmaceuticals. For example, in 2006 China exported a total of US $890 million in biopharmaceuticals – a 30.61% increase compared with the previous year. China has also become the largest vaccine manufacturing country in the world, capable of producing 41 vaccines to prevent 26 viral diseases, and has become the third country to succeed in large-scale production of genetically engineered insulin.

Additionally, China’s pharmaceutical R&D expenditures are expected to reach US $10 billion or 2% of global spending by the end of 2010. The country is expected to contribute an additional $40+ billion in annual sales by 2013, comparable to the level of increased sales forecast for the US market in the same period.

China’s investment in the biotechnology sector has translated into improvements regarding access to healthcare and the country’s economic growth through creating high-quality, highly skilled jobs. Currently, there are more than 500 biotechnology companies in China with the biopharmaceutical sector employing approximately 50,000 people. Additionally, pharmaceutical R&D is taking the form of multinational biopharmaceutical companies setting up research facilities in biotechnology parks in China, which can drive highly-skilled, high wage job growth and encourage better access to healthcare.

Please view full PDF for additional information and list of sources.

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Brazil’s Biopharmaceutical Sector Contributes to Economic Growth, Expands Access to Healthcare

Global Health Progress (GHP) released a new report that reveals how the biopharmaceutical sector in Brazil, the tenth largest biopharmaceutical market in the world and the largest in Latin America, is an important driver for its economy. For instance, Brazil’s biopharmaceutical sector develops high-quality, highly skilled jobs, which is a key factor in creating a stable economy. Currently, approximately 821 biotechnology companies in Brazil employ almost 100,000 people with an average annual salary of approximately US $4,457. Among those companies, six biopharmaceutical companies were featured in a 2003 list of the top 100 companies to work for in Brazil.

Not only does the biopharmaceutical sector produce valuable job opportunities for highly skilled workers, this emerging market plays a critical role in fostering public-private partnerships, which leads to more economic growth and greater access to healthcare for its citizens.

Investment in research and development (R&D) and promoting innovation are key ways the Brazilian government is helping drive future growth of the country’s biopharmaceutical sector. For instance, R&D investments in Brazil have increased to 1.5% of GDP in 2010 and there are more than 205 highly trained physicians per 100,000 of the population serving as investigators for clinical studies.

“In Brazil, promoting innovation is a public policy priority,” stated Rafael Oliva, Advisor to the Presidency at the Brazilian Development Bank. “The participation of the Brazilian government in research and development (R&D) is considerable, and the goal is to both increase innovative activities in Brazil on a systematic basis, and to consolidate the country’s culture of innovation.” GHP fact sheet shows how Brazil’s investment in research and development (R&D) will create positive effects throughout the economy, including improving access to healthcare for its citizens through the production of new medicines. The growing field of clinical trials is also a significant factor in improving access to healthcare. Brazil’s large population of 190 million people, with 8 out of every 10 residents living in or near a city, means clinical trial recruitment and participation is fairly robust.

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Global Health Progress Releases New Report that Features Innovative Solutions to Improve Access to Healthcare in India

Global Health Progress’ recently released report, Innovative Solutions to Improving Health in India, summarizes how the organization is committed to building sustainable, innovative solutions to secure access to healthcare for all Indian communities.

The report notes that access to healthcare remains problematic in parts of India, especially in rural areas. For instance, forty percent of the country’s primary healthcare centers are understaffed and fewer than one in five have a telephone connection. Nearly one million Indians die every year due to inadequate healthcare facilities and lack of access to healthcare. Without qualified health care professionals and fully equipped health facilities, programs to assist patients with medicines (both patented and unpatented) are of little use.

Additionally, chronic diseases are on the rise in India and infectious diseases continue to afflict Indian patients. India has the highest prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in the world, 60 percent of the world’s heart disease, and malaria has staged a comeback after its near eradication in the 1960s. An estimated 40.9 million Indian patients suffer from diabetes, the highest number in the world, and 30 million people are infected with Hepatitis B Virus (HBV).

Global Health Progress recognizes this serious situation and calls on joint action among local leaders and diverse global stakeholders to implement sustainable, innovative solutions. Fortunately, Indian communities have successful and long-standing collaborations with biopharmaceutical companies and other international partners.

The full report, which features examples of India’s successful and long-standing collaborations with international partners, is available here:
http://globalhealthprogress.org/mediacenter/index.php/global-health-progress-report…

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