Poverty is still one of the biggest issues in the developing world. Sadly but true that also leads to a healthcare problem. 

Developing World

The low level of education contributes to the lack of public awareness of hygiene. These things still make it difficult to eradicate the spread of infectious diseases.

Infectious Diseases

Infectious diseases remain a significant contributor to the burden of disease in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Leading communicable diseases from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria to diarrheal diseases, measles, and lower respiratory infections claim upwards of millions of lives in these countries each year.

This problem is still met many obstacles to solve. Technological innovation in the health sector needs to be supported by several factors. Some of these factors are the national system, government institutions, Income, Human resources of the research and development department. Then there is an innovation gap between developing and developed countries.

Heart Failures

As it quoted from Richard Mahoney and Carlos Morel argue that innovation disparity between developing and developed countries has created three kinds of “health failures”

1. Science failures

This refers to a lack of knowledge and tools to address health problems. 

2. Market failures

These happen when stock-outs occur due to high demand or when the purchase costs of drugs, vaccines, and health interventions prevent the poor from accessing them. Often the new drugs and diagnostics are very expensive to develop and/or require sophisticated technical and health infrastructure for optimal use. 

3. Public health failures

This refers to the lack of good governance, transparency, effective delivery systems, and a clear articulation of health priorities and values. Political and economic instability, cultural and religious barriers, and shifts in government priorities can block the uptake and implementation of health innovations.

To overcome these failures and to maximize the innovation potential, stronger partnerships are needed between countries, through global health initiatives, and between the private sector and civil society.

World Health Organization’s Role

WHO once stated that If we are serious about innovating to address infectious diseases of poverty, we need an innovative system with a focus beyond product development. This system needs to be able to respond to changing global health needs, translate technological development, deliver useful innovation and, eventually, ensure greater sustainability and equity for the world’s poorest populations.

Developing Countries must be actively involved in the health innovation system so that the tools and innovative approaches necessary to deal with infectious diseases are developed with significant participation of the countries affected by those diseases.