This is exactly what we need for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria to no longer be such devastating diseases in the poorest countries. This is because diagnosing and treating tuberculosis is a long, complex process, making it difficult to combat in countries with limited financial and logistic resources. It’s because there are hardly any antiretroviral drugs tailored for children, and because preventive vaccines for AIDS and malaria are necessary.
Yet barely any investment is made in R+D of biomedical products for these and other poverty-related diseases. If we compare total spending on health R+D on that devoted to poverty-related diseases, we discover that only 10% is allocated to research that affects the poorest, making AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria come to be known as the neglected diseases.
We at Salud por Derecho believe that more investment is necessary, not only from governments, but also from private sources. In addition to foundations, which are already playing a key role, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have a major role to play.
