How China and Other Emerging Powers are Reshaping the Global Health Landscape David Gold Principal, Global Health Strategies China Health Communication Conference 17 November 2012
Global Health Strategies (GHS) Global Health Strategies (GHS) is an international consulting company working with clients to ensure the development and delivery of health products, technologies and information GHS has offices in Beijing, New York, New Delhi and Rio de Janeiro and operates through consultants and partners in many countries across Africa, Asia and Europe GHS focuses on four key areas: Strategy, Advocacy and Stakeholder Engagement Communications and Media Relations Research and Analysis Program Implementation 2
GHSi BRICS Report In 2011, GHS launched a nonprofit affiliate organization, GHSi, which advocates for improved access to health care in developing countries with an emphasis on the role of emerging economies In 2012, GHSi released a report on the role of the BRICS in global health and development efforts Report emphasized growth of foreign assistance, role of innovation and South-South cooperation Launched the report at event in Delhi timed to BRICS Summit 3
BRICS Report: Key Themes 1. South-South cooperation is an increasingly major element of global health, and is largely driven by BRICS countries 2. Innovative domestic health programs in BRICS countries can provide powerful models to improve health internationally 3. High-quality, low-cost health technologies produced in China and elsewhere will save lives globally, particularly in the poorest countries 4
1. Growing Role of South-South Cooperation Driving Factors: Increasing economic strength of BRICS countries, and slowdown in the West BRICS foreign assistance budgets growing as development budgets are squeezed in traditional donor countries 5
1. Growth of BRICS Foreign Assistance 6
1. China s Foreign Assistance Investments China has a long history of foreign assistance; the 2011 White Paper on Foreign Aid showed that assistance programs expanded at 29.4% annually between 2004 and 2009
1. Example: Chinese Health Assistance to Africa Source: China Health Aid to Africa, Liu Peilong, Guo Yan, Li Anshan, Ding Xuhong, Yang Haomin, 2011 Note: *Additional commitments made in 2009 for malaria activities across all categories According to the White Paper, the Chinese government views healthcare as a critical building block for poverty alleviation throughout the Global South 8
1. Diseases Have No Borders China and other countries recognize that diseases easily spread across borders Polio Pandemic Flu Measles HIV/AIDS By fighting these diseases around the world, countries including China ensure its own citizens are safer and healthier 9
2. Domestic Programs Can Provide Global Models Domestic health innovation within the BRICS provides important models for global health Example: Brazil HIV/AIDS - Brazil has been a leader in committing to provide treatment to all HIV-positive citizens similar to China s Four Free and One Care Program Immunization - Like China, focused on ensuring it has the domestic capacity to manufacture the vaccines it needs 10
2. Key Example: China Health Reform China s health reform is greatest single expansion of healthcare access and coverage the world has ever seen The lessons China shares from this experience could have impact globally China will be well-positioned to support and assist other countries looking to expand health coverage 11
3. Affordable Technology Impacting Global Health Pharmaceutical companies in China and other BRICS have expanded access to essential drugs, vaccines and health technologies worldwide Japanese Encephalitis: Chinesemade vaccine now being exported to 13 countries Malaria: Chinese manufacturers have produced and delivered artemisinin-based anti-malarials across Africa 12
3. Affordable Technology Impacting Global Health Sino-implant (II): Family planning technology developed by Shanghai Dahua Pharmaceuticals for resourcepoor countries - 700,000 have been distributed, averting 661,000 unintended pregnancies Shang Ring: Chinese designed and manufactured male circumcision tool being used to fight HIV/AIDS around the world 13
3. China s Investments in R&D Source: OECD, Main Science and Technology Indicators, 2011 14
3. China s Investments in R&D In 2011, China s Ministry of Science and Technology forged a partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to advance global health and agriculture Under the partnership, MOST and Gates Foundation will co-fund projects that: Promote R&D around new products that will have meaningful impact on alleviating poverty globally Accelerate the translation of project results into products that can be delivered for impact in resource-poor countries Mobilize public and private sector support to address the needs of resource-poor countries 15
Conclusions 1. In today s world, China and other emerging economies are uniquely well-positioned to make investments that benefit their own health and economies AND make unique contributions to global health 2. China s development has taught it a great deal about dealing with complex health situations; many countries could learn from its experiences 3. Progress made in providing for domestic health needs can provide examples that bring huge benefits to global health 16
Thank you to the Health Education Centre of China s Ministry of Health, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Tsinghua International Center for Communication for hosting this event 17