Name
Chamberlain University
NR-553: Global Health
Prof. Name
Date
According to Padmanabhan, Amin, Sampat, Cook-Deegan, and Chandrasekharan (2010), the majority of deaths from cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where access to regular gynecological screening remains limited. This issue is further compounded by the high cost of vaccines, which restricts their availability in these regions.
The authors suggest that local vaccine production in LMICs can substantially reduce costs. Successful examples from Brazil, India, and China demonstrate that locally manufactured vaccines can be both affordable and compliant with international standards. These efforts have enabled organizations such as UNICEF to source vaccines from these producers, thereby improving access for low-income populations.
However, the authors also highlight that developing country vaccine manufacturers (DCVMs) often face barriers in accessing advanced biotechnologies due to intellectual property (IP) constraints. Although patent restrictions have not yet severely affected DCVMs, challenges may emerge as LMICs fully implement the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. Historically, many LMICs did not enforce patents on biopharmaceuticals, but compliance with TRIPS now requires adherence to strict international patent laws.
Despite these challenges, Padmanabhan et al. (2010) argue that governments, regional stakeholders, and international organizations should continue supporting efforts by DCVMs. Academic institutions also play a crucial role in facilitating technology transfer through research and by developing licensing models that promote affordable vaccine production rather than restricting it.
Have there been any public/private global collaborations that transcended differences to address a huge public health issue? What can we learn from these? What was the catalyst for such action?
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been instrumental in tackling major global health issues by combining the strengths of public and private sectors. According to Yaïch (2009), PPPs bring together government agencies and private organizations to pool financial, scientific, and technical resources, particularly for addressing health disparities in LMICs. These collaborations are strongly endorsed by international entities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank, the United Nations (UN), UNICEF, and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
One of the key advantages of PPPs is their capacity to bridge the financial and operational gaps that hinder vaccine accessibility. Vaccine development typically involves high costs and uncertain returns on investment, especially in low-income markets. A notable example illustrating the power of PPPs is the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Project, which demonstrates how collective action can effectively respond to pressing health challenges (PATH, n.d.).
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Disease | Japanese Encephalitis (JE) – a mosquito-borne viral infection that predominantly affects children in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. |
| Health Impact | Causes flu-like symptoms, seizures, coma, and can lead to permanent disability. There is no cure—vaccination is the only preventive strategy. |
| Challenges | Weak disease surveillance systems, unstable vaccine supply, insufficient advocacy, and limited programmatic support. |
| Catalyst for Action | In 2004, PATH received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to initiate the JE project. |
| Collaborating Partners | PATH, WHO, national governments, and the Chengdu Institute of Biological Products (CDIBP) in China. |
| Outcomes | – Strengthened disease surveillance systems. – Promoted data-driven vaccine introduction. – Negotiated affordable public-sector pricing for the Chinese vaccine SA 14-14-2. – Supported WHO prequalification for the vaccine. |
| Beneficiary Countries | India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and North Korea. |
This case demonstrates how PPPs foster innovation by blending public oversight with private sector efficiency. Rather than replacing existing organizations, PPPs complement and enhance global health systems by promoting equitable vaccine distribution and accelerating access to life-saving medical tools.
Mobile health (mHealth) technologies have emerged as transformative solutions for delivering healthcare in regions with limited access to medical infrastructure. Through mobile phones, health workers can share medical information, conduct patient education, and monitor community health trends remotely. However, mHealth initiatives face several challenges, including concerns about privacy, literacy barriers, cultural sensitivities, and the high cost of mobile devices.
Collaboration among key stakeholders—such as governments, NGOs, and private donors—can help subsidize technology costs, ensuring wider accessibility. When implemented effectively, mHealth strategies improve health outcomes by bridging communication and service delivery gaps between providers and remote populations.
In addition, telemedicine (e-health) extends this potential by connecting resource-limited areas with global healthcare expertise. The barriers to implementation, however, vary between developing and developed nations:
| Context | Primary Challenges |
|---|---|
| Developing Countries | High costs, weak technological infrastructure, and lack of technical expertise. |
| Developed Countries | Legal issues surrounding patient privacy, competing healthcare priorities, and limited perceived demand. |
For successful and sustainable integration, national governments must ensure that telemedicine initiatives are contextually appropriate, adequately funded, and periodically evaluated for long-term impact (Alajmi, Almansour, & Househ, 2013).
Alajmi, D., Almansour, S., & Househ, M. S. (2013). Recommendations for implementing telemedicine in the developing world. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 190, 118–120.
Padmanabhan, S., Amin, T., Sampat, B., Cook-Deegan, R., & Chandrasekharan, S. (2010). Intellectual property, technology transfer and developing country manufacture of low-cost HPV vaccines: A case study of India. Nature Biotechnology, 28(7), 671–678. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0710-671
PATH. (n.d.). PATH’s work on Japanese encephalitis helps millions get access to a lifesaving vaccine. Retrieved from https://www.path.org/projects/japanese_encephalitis_project.php
Yaïch, M. (2009). Investing in vaccines for developing countries: How public-private partnerships can confront neglected diseases. Human Vaccines, 5(6), 368–369. https://doi.org/10.4161/hv.5.6.8172
