The fight against infectious diseases -- both the known, old ones and the new, emerging ones -- represents a formidable challenge to the international community. Globalisation, urbanisation and increased international travel have added to the potential for the rapid spread of infections. Infectious diseases are particularly challenging for developing countries as they divert resources from the core issues of poverty eradication and social and economic development. It is also true that poverty and underdevelopment are themselves major contributors to emerging and re-emerging infections.

2. The focus on the fight against infectious diseases is commendable as no disease can be effectively controlled without international cooperation. For such cooperation to succeed, it is necessary that there be adequate attention on the needs of developing countries.

Capacity building

3. Disease-specific assistance can, by itself, not provide a sustainable shield against re-emergence of infectious diseases. It is important to also address the basic capacity constraints of the health sector in developing countries. There is a need to improve capabilities to absorb resources and for the effective delivery of services. Country level surveillance of important communicable diseases also needs to be strengthened.

Networking and strengthening of surveillance

4. Inter-country networks can help in addressing cross-border and transnational health issues. At a regional level, such networks could be used for:

• Linking of country level surveillance systems
• Sharing of information, experiences and best practices
• Sharing of technical guidelines, operating manuals and standard treatment protocols/regimens
• Linking of laboratories with a focus on quality assurance, bio-safety and bio-security
• Outbreak investigation and management

Triangular cooperation

5. The experiences of developing countries are likely to be more relevant to other developing countries. The support provided by such countries would also be more cost-effective. Countries like India can, with financial support by developed countries, cooperate with other developing countries in strengthening disease surveillance, training in field epidemiology, training of rapid response teams etc.

Joint stockpiling of drugs for avian flu

6. Access to known antiretroviral drugs for H5N1 is hampered by capacity limitations and prohibitive costs. The work done by WHO is useful. It, however, needs to be further strengthened to deal with the panic that can be caused by the very real threat of an avian influenza pandemic.

Access to drugs

7. Major barriers, including those relating to pricing, tariffs and trade and regulatory policies need to be addressed to facilitate affordable access to new vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and technology for preventing and controlling infectious diseases. The flexibilities contained in the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights need to be used fully to achieve price reduction and enhanced access to treatment by patients in developing countries.

Creation of capacity in the veterinary sector

8. The role of zoonotic diseases needs more attention by the international community. The outbreak of avian influenza has highlighted the need to address animal health surveillance and the strengthening of vetinary capacities. However, animal health is a relatively under-funded sector in most developing countries and needs to be strengthened through international co-operation.

  

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