TOPIC AREA 7
ENSURING THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS FULLY INVOLVED The challenge of preparing for and responding to pandemics remains a significant international health challenge. Despite the obvious need, the world is at a crossroads with some large country contributors—notably the United States—seeking to decrease investment in global health. There is also a problem of discrepancies between the amount of investment pledged by a country and the amount that is actually given. As government contributions decrease, it is important that private industry helps fill the gap. Currently, around $160 billion is spent on health research and development (R&D) annually (Schneider, Villasenor, & West, 2017). The majority of this R&D is focused on the developing world, though neglected diseases receive the least amount of funding from private investors (Schneider, Villasensor, & West, 2017). Additionally, pharmaceutical companies serve as the major investors, with non-Western companies, notably those from China and India, providing substantial increases in investments.
Global Leadership at a Crossroads
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