Analysis shows return on investment for global health R&D
January / February 2017 | Volume 16, Issue 1
Research and development for new health technologies are essential to solving the world's greatest global health challenges, according to the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC). A set of infographics available to download on the organization's website illustrates the impact of global health R&D investments, the funding and pipeline of products for neglected diseases, and the ongoing need for development of new technologies.
Support for R&D has a multiplier effect, the GHTC notes, not only saving and improving lives, but also reducing costs, encouraging economic growth and enhancing global security. “Investment in global health R&D drives job creation, spurs business activity and benefits academic institutions: nearly 64 cents of every U.S. dollar spent on global health R&D goes directly to U.S.-based researchers,” the website reports.
U.S.-funded global health research has supported such breakthroughs as antiretroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS, improved diagnostics for infectious diseases, new contraceptive technologies and a new vaccine to combat malaria.
More Information
Text of the chart "Critical US role in global health R&D":
- 55 percent of products in the global pipeline are supported by the US government
- 45 percent of total investment in global health R&D (public, private, philanthropic) is contributed by the US government
- 70 percent of public sector investment in global health R&D is contributed by the US government
- Less than .01 percent of US GDP is spent annually on global health R&D
To view Adobe PDF files,
download current, free accessible plug-ins from Adobe's website.