PHM-Exch> The Health Impact Fund: Making Medicines Accessible for All

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org


 *The Health Impact Fund: Making Medicines Accessible for All

*

*A Report of **Incentives for Global Health***


*Aidan Hollis and Thomas Pogge – Lead authors

*

Available online PDF [152p.] at:
http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/igh/hif_book.pdf

Corrections and Supplements November 2009
http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/igh/files/HIF_supplementsNov09.pdf



‘……The chief problems with the present system governing the development and
distribution of medicines are well known: despite relatively low
manufacturing costs, patented medicines are often very expensive and are
therefore unaffordable for most people; and diseases concentrated among the
poor attract little or no pharmaceutical research. As a result of both
factors, the disease burden among the poor is, avoidably, very high. Many
diseases of the poor are communicable and expose all of humanity to the risk
of new and virulent strains. These problems are further aggravated: by
patients who, often deterred by high prices, fail to complete a full course
of treatment; by lack of access to competent medical staff who would ensure
that medicines are taken correctly; and by counterfeiters, often attracted
by high prices, who may dilute a medicine’s active ingredients.

In addition, competitive marketing and litigation costs reduce the return
from innovation, and make it a less attractive investment. Each of these
problems has provoked ideas and initiatives by academics, NGOs, governments,
and international agencies. By supporting both innovation and real access,
the Health Impact Fund extends the best of these ideas into one
comprehensive, unified solution that makes substantial progress toward a
rational system of developing and distributing worldwide the pharmaceuticals
we all need……”



*Preface *

*Contents *

*Executive Summary *

*1. The Health Impact Fund: A Summary Overview *

*2. Reward Mechanism *

*3. Health Impact Measurement *

*4. Governance and Administration *

*5. Financing the Health Impact Fund *

*6. A Moral Argument for Creating the Health Impact Fund *

*7. The Last Mile Problem *

What Is the Last Mile Problem?

Pharmaceutical Companies, the Health Impact Fund, and the Last Mile Problem

*8. An Economic Analysis of Patents and the Health Impact Fund *

*9. Alternative and Complementary Solutions *

Governmental and Non-governmental Direct Purchases

Drug Price Reduction Efforts

Patent pools

Push Mechanisms

Pull Mechanisms

*10. The Health Impact Fund: A Cost-effective, Feasible Plan for Improving
Human Health Worldwide *

The Need for Change

How the Health Impact Fund Works for Patients

How the Health Impact Fund Works for Pharmaceutical Companies

How the Health Impact Fund Works for Taxpayers

Why for Pharmaceuticals? And Why Now?

The Path Forward

*Appendix A: Poverty, Global Health, and Essential Medicines *

The Disease Burden in Developing Countries

*Appendix B: Pharmaceutical Markets and Innovation *

Global Pharmaceutical Markets

Insurance and Pricing

*Notes on Quotations *

*References
<http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/igh/>*
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