Urgent need to create a commodities market of life-saving medicines

Skoll Word Forum shared a conversation with Executive Director of UNICEF Anthony Lake. He “discussed the urgent need to create a commodities market of life-saving medicines in the developing world, arguing that healthy children are good for business.” Lake argues that: “Innovations in technology, delivery systems and creating demand are critical to accelerating our progress cost-effectively and efficiently.

Some recent examples include: auto-disable syringes which have a small internal valve to stop their being reused and spreading diseases; solar fridges that don’t need a battery so that vaccines can be stored in remote villages; and vaccine vial monitors with temperature sensitive stickers that change color if vials have been exposed to high temperatures and rendered unusable.

Often, it’s not about inventing new technologies, but repurposing existing ones.

For instance, mobile technologies, such as cell phones, are improving how we monitor and report on stocks of health commodities.  Health workers can text patients to remind them about appointments and give them information about health or nutrition.  These technologies are transforming how health is delivered in the developing world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where there’s a steady expansion in cell phone usage.

Now on the cusp of great change and even greater results, we must work ever more with the   private and public sectors to innovate and develop new products and new uses for existing technologies.”

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