MSF response to the launch of the G-FINDER report

“The lack of private sector research and development for neglected diseases (just 10% in 2011 for sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease), reflects the core problem that today’s R&D model relies on market incentives and high prices for a return on investment. The costs of investing in R&D must be separated from the price of resulting products.

The GFINDER survey clearly shows that steady funding for neglected diseases is vulnerable, making it essential that we agree to ways of promoting R&D through predictable, sustainable funding solutions.

While governments have acknowledged the lack of R&D for neglected diseases is a problem, there are still only a few countries that are willing to push for bold action to fix the broken R&D system. Discussions on a possible R&D treaty at the World Health Organization last week were a profound disappointment, where despite a decade of discussions, countries kicked the can down the road, agreeing only to business as usual for another four years.”

—Dr Manica Balasegaram, Executive Director, Médecins Sans Frontières Access Campaign