NR_553 Week 7 Discussion, Technology Transfer

Technology Transfer NAME Chamberlain College of Nursing NR 553: Global Health Policy DATE Review an article regarding technology transfer to a developing nation. Discuss barriers to the technology transfer presented in the article Week 7: Technology Transfer According to Padmanabhan, Amin, Sampat, Cook-Deegan, and Chandrasekharan (2010), the majority of deaths from cervical cancer occur in the Low -and middle-income where access to routine gynecological screening is limited. The health concern is also escalated by the lack of access to vaccines in these countries as a result of their relatively high retail prices due to the high costs involved in the production of these vaccines. They, however, explain that vaccine manufacturing in the LMCs can substantially reduce prices, citing the progress made by the emerging countries such as Brazil, India, and China in producing low-cost yet efficient vaccines that meet international standards to serve low—income countries. These manufacturers have lowered the procurement cost for extensive vaccination programs, and their efforts have also significantly improved access to vaccines as international agencies such as UNICEF result to them for their supplies. The scholars also state that the developing country vaccine manufacturers (DCVMS) need access to the relevant technology to produce the vaccines. However, the technology may be protected from intellectual property rights. Further, they assert that the DCVMS have not faced significant patent barriers but the changes adopted by the LMC countries in compliance with the World Trade Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights may pose considerable obstacles. For example, many LMCs did not award patents for biopharmaceuticals, but now DCVMs have to strictly adhere to international pharmaceutical patent rights on vaccines and related technologies. The scholars, however, contend the barriers should not prevent DCVM efforts and stakeholders such as regional manufacturers, governments, and international agencies should instead consider taking the necessary steps towards enhancing the production of the low-cost vaccine. They particularly singled out academic research institutes as vital in supporting technology transfer by improving access to know-how as well as ensuring licensing does not hinder the manufacture of the low-cost vaccine. Reference 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. PROFESSOR RESPONSE TO POST: It is sad that collaboration among organizations which may expedite a public health solution is not occurring fast enough. 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? RESPONSE TO PROFESSOR: Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are an important way to fund and sustain infrastructure projects and public services. According to Yaïch, “public-private partnerships involves the close cooperation between the private and public sectors to make both financial and non-financial resources available for the desperately needed improvement of medical services in countries with low and middle incomes” (2009). PPPs have been promoted by WHO, the World Bank, the UN, UNICEF, influential governments, NGOs, and businesses as a positive innovation which can narrow the gap between the rich and poor countries. Public-private partnerships aimed at bridging gaps in global health represent an important approach to accelerating access to life-saving vaccines in poor countries. For producers of vaccines, the expenditure toward advancing a vaccine for the developing world often comes with the risk of an uncertain return on investment, thus proving to be costly and risky (Yaïch, 2009). Japanese encephalitis (JE) is the leading viral cause of disability affecting rural communities in Southeast Asia and countries of the Western Pacific (PATH, n.d.). The mosquitoes that transmit JE breed in areas of standing water—such as rice paddies. The disease primarily affects children and begins with flu-like symptoms, sometimes progressing to abnormal behavior, confusion, and agitation. As the illness advances, seizures may occur, and patients often become comatose. There is no cure, thus the only practical solution is prevention through vaccination. However, control efforts have been hindered by inadequate disease surveillance, a limited and unstable vaccine supply, lack of guidance and programmatic support, and insufficient advocacy (PATH, n.d.; Yaïch, 2009). In 2004 PATH, an international nonprofit organization was awarded a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the JE project. PATH partnered with the WHO and governments to establish or improve surveillance in several countries, improve data for decision making, advance the availability of an improved vaccine, introduce the vaccine to immunization systems, and expand outreach through advocacy (PATH, n.d.; Yaïch, 2009). PATH had discovered that Chengdu Institute of Biological Products (CDIBP) a pharmaceutical manufacturer in China had already developed an affordable vaccine, known as SA 14-14-2 (Yaïch, 2009). PATH collaborated with international partners and ministries of health in Asia to initiate negotiations with CDIBP to establish a maximum public-sector price for SA 14-14-2 through the year 2026 (Yaïch, 2009). PATH is also helping CDIBP, pursue WHO prequalification as the critical next step in expanding access to the vaccine. Countries that have benefited from access to the vaccine include India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). Public-private partnerships do not replace any organization in the fight against the disease. Instead, they are assets that help to create new tools more quickly and flexible. Reference PATH. (n.d.). PATH’s work on Japanese encephalitis helps millions get access to a lifesaving vaccine. Retrieved from Yaïch, M. (2009). Investing in vaccines for developing countries: How public-private partnerships can confront neglected diseases. Human Vaccines, 5(6), 368-369. RESPONSE TO PEER POST: Mobile health provides an opportunity for healthcare workers to engage communities that have difficulty accessing healthcare facilities. The mobile phone can be used to obtain health information, educate, and monitor health. Privacy issues, the literacy rate of the country, and the culture of the people using the phone need to be considered for mobile health to succeed in developing countries. Obtaining and maintaining a mobile phone can be costly, contributions from different stakeholders and organizations to provide phone should be considered. Mobile health can improve the health outcomes of people living in developing countries when it is properly utilized. Claudette, As nursing professionals, we understand the benefits of telemedicine or e-health has the great potential to address some of the challenges faced by both developed and developing countries in providing accessible, cost-effective, high-quality health care services. Where health care infrastructure is inadequate, telemedicine is an innovative solution that connects the developing world to the resources of the developed world. However, certain aspects of telemedicine can be difficult to implement in underdeveloped settings and should be addressed. While developing countries are more likely to consider resource issues such as high costs, underdeveloped infrastructure, and lack of technical expertise to be barriers to telemedicine, developed countries are more likely to consider legal issues surrounding patient privacy and confidentiality, competing for health system priorities, and a perceived lack of demand to be barriers to telemedicine implementation. National agencies should coordinate telemedicine initiatives, ensuring they are appropriate to local contexts, cost-effective, evaluated, and adequately funded as part of integrated health service delivery. Reference 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.