In attempting to address problems of access to medicines in developing countries, it is not productive to utilize any typology to limit the scope of diseases that are to be part of the WHO Global Strategy and Plan of Action’s focus for the next 7 years.
Analyzing data available through the WHO
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According to the 2006 CIPIH report (p4), “…in contrast to developed countries, developing countries are increasingly suffering from the double burden of disease because of the continuing scourge of communicable, maternal, perinatal and nutritional diseases, combined with injuries and noncommunicable diseases.”
Further, not only do developing countries face a greater burden of disease than developed countries but often have more limited capacities to address these problems. For instance, some Type I diseases may disproportionately impact developing countries because of the lack of availability of effective screening techniques and treatments options. For example, the CIPIH report observes that “…80% of cervical cancer cases are in the developing world, where it is the leading cause of death from cancer for women, but it has been estimated that only about 5% of women in developing countries have been screened for cervical dysplasia in the past 5 years, compared with 40–50% of women in developed countries(9).” (p5)
The CIPIH report also states that “Reducing the very high incidence of communicable diseases in developing countries is an overriding priority, but it is also important to consider how the high burden of noncommunicable diseases in developing countries can be addressed.” (p5)
While negotiating text at the IGWG-II, member states should take seriously the CIPIH recommendation that “For noncommunicable diseases, governments and companies should consider how treatments, which are widely available in developed countries, can be made more accessible for patients in developing countries.” (p115)
For any disease, the prerequisite to access is the existence of the relevant and well-adapted medical products stemming from sufficient innovation in that specific area. The formal listing of diseases as targets for R&D is an unjustified limitation because it cannot ensure universal access to medical products for diseases that are not included on the list such as rare or unforeseen medical conditions which are not limited to certain parts of the world.