ECWA Evangel Hospital, Jos, Nigeria - The dangers of attacking disease programmes for developing countries.

published 06-10-2007

Times marked as favorite : 59

"Roger England has launched yet another broadside attack on programmesfor priority diseases in poor countries (BMJ 2007;335:565 doi:10.1136/bmj.39335.520463.94 and 2007;334:344 doi: 10.1136/bmj.39113.402361.94).In his latest Personal View, he claims that "disease specificglobal programmes [are] not the way to help Africa," insteadthat they cause "big problems for recipients," and that moneyfor HIV/AIDS is "the worst." He claims that off-budget moneyleads to distortions; that there are duplications of plans,operations, and monitoring; and that priority disease programmesare neither cost effective nor sustainable."

In this important contribution, the authors refute point by point the arguments claiming that "priority disease programs" such as those targeted at HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, are counterproductive in the developing world.

The dangers of attacking disease programmes for developing countries. BMJ 2007;335(7621):646 (29 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.39349.591296.59

Readers' Comments

Average user rating

(1 vote)

Display 1 of 1 comments

[+] Expand comment

True

By: sule (Registered) published 17-10-2007

[-] Collapse comment

True

By: sule (Registered IP 196.47.91.146) published 17-10-2007

I agree with Mr England that donor countries need to look at the healthcare systems of recipient countries in the course of giving aid. Healthcare systems of most developing countries are poor and inefficient. Once this is developed it will go a long way in helping to improve healthcare delivery