What is the Impact of Global Health Funding on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)?

The Global Health Impact (GHI) organization works to raise stakeholders’ (pharmaceutical and biotech industries, non-profits, international organizations, etc.) awareness about the need for increased research and funding. Certain kinds of infectious diseases, known as Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), have very minimal research and development efforts catered to them due to the impoverished state of those commonly affected by these diseases. At GHI, we are expanding our models to analyze steps that could be taken to reduce the disregard of NTDs. These models provide the necessary information that is key to successfully addressing the lack of access to medicines. As listed by the World Health Organization, NTDs include Onchocerciasis, Schistosomiasis, Helminthiases, Lymphatic Filariasis, amongst a few others. In sub-Saharan Africa and other regions highly affected by NTDs, there are many challenges that impede progress, including limited human resources, lack of patient follow-up, lack of suitable lab equipment, lack of trained personnel, and lack of adequate treatment.

Recently, the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals set by WHO has created a shift in the perception of NTDs. Most especially,the Sustainable Development goals target of 2030 has also inspired participation by stakeholders to further subdue infectious diseases.Sustainable Development Goal 3 is to ensure health lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Under the progress report of 2017, remarkable declines were reported in the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV, TB and Malaria. In addition, there was also a 30% increase in funding from 2010 to 2015. From this report, we may infer that there is a positive trajectory towards the 2030 target.

Along with the recent substantial increase in global health funding, significant innovations are also improving the state of global health in regards to NTDs and other infectious diseases. There have been various “nonprofit product development partnerships” which focus on specific NTD drugs e.g., Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative [DNDi] and PATH. According to the audited financial report for 2016, there were an estimated 407 million euros funded to DNDi from public and private donors. These donations supported the development and delivery of the six treatments already administered by the foundation, as well as their eighteen treatment target of 2023. Increased funding for NTDs such as this often increases the amount of research that goes into developing antibiotics, vaccines, and other preventative measures.

Another incredible development is the G-FINDER, a comprehensive database built by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This database tracks funding for Poverty Related Neglected Infectious Diseases (PRNIDs). It implements an online survey to collate data on public, private, and philanthropic funding to several countries. Measurement of funding is done based on disease and on each neglected disease funder. The results of each survey is sent out to 900 organizations to identify where potential gaps in funding lie. The measurement of funding is important to continually ensure research and development, as well as access to existing medicines for neglected diseases.

But what is the impact of this funding on global health and PRNIDs, in particular?

In order to answer this question, we need to know what impact our efforts are having on these diseases and the Global Health Impact organization works to provide this information. The Global Health Impact Index measures the death and disability averted with medicines around the world. The transparency of the index allows the pharmaceutical, biotech, philanthropic, and other related industries in global health to know where the issues lie and where changes could be made to improve global health conditions. To illustrate, the GHI Systematic Review team is currently analyzing Lymphatic Filariasis (an NTD) to establish which resources (especially drugs) will be the most successful in effecting global well-being. To do this, thorough research is conducted on which international projects or non-profit initiatives are already in place and which drugs are most commonly used in combatting this disease.These processes eventually produce results that GHI can add to its drug index, which will inform pharma and biotech industries on what methods are most effective. These stakeholders should, in turn, apply this knowledge on the R&D, manufacturing and distribution level.

References:

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4. Report of the Secretary-General, "Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals" https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg3
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