Global Health Technology Working to increase awareness of the urgent need for technologies that save lives in the developing world Mohammed AlBassam ITMG 100

Introduction Health technologies have the potential to save millions of lives every year. The world urgently needs new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tests to slow the global threat of diseases, including malaria, TB and HIV / AIDS, and to tackle many other pressing health needs. Sufficient funding for research and development, a simpler process for new technologies, and increased interest by private industry can help deliver new health solutions for the developing world.

Global Initiative on Health Technologies (GIHT) The specific aims of the GIHT are: To support the international community on establishing a framework for the development of national health technology programs To encourage the business and scientific communities to identify and adapt "innovative” technologies

Core / Innovative Technologies Core Technologies Innovative Technologies Refers to technologies that are commonly considered as important or necessary for specific preventive, diagnostic, treatment or rehabilitation procedures carried out in most health care facilities. Serve to fill existing gaps in the availability of health technologies to vulnerable populations through the provision of new solutions to health problems, the adaptation of existing technologies to a particular setting or for a new use, and the combination of technologies to address several health issues at once

Diagnosis Technologies Faster and more accurate tests to diagnose disease can speed up treatment and improve chances of survival. Diagnosis is out of reach in developing countries Must be affordable, appropriate

Finding The Next Generation of Tools Investments in health technologies have already led to vast advancements in global health. Now, we need to expand access to these tools and develop the next generation of technologies Life expectancy in the world’s poorest countries could increase more than 20 percent by 2050 if recent advancements against HIV, TB, malaria, and other diseases continue.

Solution Cooperation and collaboration are key (of every sector)— private and public, governmental and nongovernmental. The challenges ahead of us are great, but they are not impossible to overcome. With adequate investment in the discovery, development, and delivery of global health technologies, we can stop the spread of disease effectively and save lives.

Works Cited http://www.ghtcoalition.org/ Advancing Innovation to Save Lives http://www.who.int/medical_devices/innovation/en/ http://iihlab.wordpress.com/2011/08/03/global-health- technology-2-0-leaping-over-the-gap-with-collaborative- invention/