Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are injecting new resources, momentum and innovation into efforts to improve health in the world’s poorest countries, according to a report released on the eve of the 2012 BRICS Summit.City Express speaks with David Gold, attorney and principal of Global Health Strategies about the health burdens commonly associated with BRICS countries and what is being done to help them over come it.Gold says that they have found that the BRICS are taking a unique approach to foreign assistance. These countries tend to emphasise South-South cooperation and programs that build capacity and draw from their own domestic experiences in health.This is an important finding to highlight as the leaders of the BRICS countries discuss broader approaches to collaboration when the meet for their annual summit.■ What are the most common problems associated with BRICS when it comes to health? As emerging economies, there are several common health challenges that confront many of these countries. India and China have the highest burden of TB in the world. Non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, are all on the rise in these countries. It is because of their shared challenges that we believe these countries have the potential to dramatically impact health outcomes.■ To what extent are these problems addressed and what is the solution?BRICS governments are increasingly investing in R&D for health. In India, the Department of Biotechnology invests heavily in health R&D and the Indian government recently announced the launch of a US$ 1 billion innovation fund to encourage innovative solutions to problems affecting the most marginalised in the country.While the solutions to health problems are often complex, investing in R&D is a clear step in the right direction. The country has also invested US $1.49 billion in polio elimination efforts and recently surpassed one full year without a documented case of wild type polio.This is an extraordinary milestone and a huge step toward the global eradication of polio. It is equally important to invest in innovative delivery mechanisms to ensure that new health technologies reach those who need them most.In addition, contributions to addressing health challenges from the private sector also make an impact globally.India’s drug and vaccine manufacturers have played a central role in driving down prices for vaccines and drugs, thereby expanding access to millions around the world.■ How does India fare when compared with the other countries in terms of health?Despite being home to some of the most advanced and well equipped healthcare facilities in the world, India continues to face many health challenges. The Prime Minister recently acknowledged that 43 per cent of the country’s children are malnourished. HIV/AIDS and TB are responsible for nearly 4,60,000 deaths each year. At the same time, we are encouraged to hear that government health expenditures will be increased to 2.5 per cent of GDP and that new ambitious health programs are currently being considered.■ What has been the growth rate of the foreign assistance given to BRICS?For several years, BRICS countries have been transitioning from recipients to donors. Our report has found that foreign assistance from the BRICS countries has increased more than ten times faster than contributions from G7 countries between 2005 and 2010. This is especially welcome in today’s global economic climate.■ In what innovative ways can the health of these less-developed countries be improved?By leveraging their resources and respective expertise, the BRICS could have a tremendous impact on health challenges in less-developed countries.Some potential areas of collaboration include TB innovation, non-communicable diseases, polio eradication, disease surveillance and access to vaccines.We hope that the BRICS countries strengthen their commitments to collaborating on health issues during the BRICS Summit later this week.
Comments
0 comment