12.2 Global health equity and access to biotechnology

Biotechnology advancements offer incredible potential to improve global health, but access remains unequal. Ethical concerns arise from disparities in resource allocation, exploitation of vulnerable populations, and the widening gap between developed and developing nations.

Economic, political, and social factors contribute to these disparities. International organizations play a crucial role in promoting health equity. Strategies like collaborative research, differential pricing, and strengthening local healthcare systems aim to create more equitable access to life-saving biotechnologies worldwide.

Global Health Equity and Access to Biotechnology

Ethics of global biotechnology access

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Top images from around the web for Ethics of global biotechnology access

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  Distributive Justice as a Means of Combating Systemic Racism in Healthcare | Voices in Bioethics View original

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  Justice: a key consideration in health policy and systems research ethics | BMJ Global Health View original

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• 

  Frontiers | COVID-19 Pandemic as an Excellent Opportunity for Global Health Diplomacy View original

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  Distributive Justice as a Means of Combating Systemic Racism in Healthcare | Voices in Bioethics View original

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• Distributive justice
  • Ensures fair allocation of resources (medicines, vaccines) and benefits (improved health outcomes) across populations
  • Addresses disparities in access to healthcare (rural vs. urban) and biotechnology (developed vs. developing countries)
• Principle of equality
  • Considers equal access to healthcare as a fundamental human right, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location
  • Challenges the notion of market-driven distribution of resources, which often favors wealthy individuals and nations
• Exploitation of vulnerable populations
  • Recognizes that lack of access to healthcare and biotechnology can lead to participation in risky clinical trials (drug testing) out of desperation
  • Highlights unethical practices by pharmaceutical companies (misleading marketing) in developing countries with weaker regulations
• Exacerbation of existing inequalities
  • Acknowledges that unequal access to biotechnology widens the gap between developed (United States) and developing nations (sub-Saharan Africa)
  • Perpetuates poverty and health disparities, as those without access face higher disease burdens and reduced economic opportunities

Causes of global health disparities

• Economic factors
  • Lack of funding for healthcare infrastructure (hospitals, clinics) in low-income countries hinders access to biotechnology
  • High costs of biotechnology research and development (drug discovery) make innovations unaffordable for many populations
• Political factors
  • Inadequate government prioritization of healthcare in national budgets and policies
  • Lack of international cooperation and support for global health initiatives (vaccine distribution)
• Social determinants of health
  • Poverty, education, and living conditions (sanitation, nutrition) directly affect health outcomes and access to care
  • Limited access to basic healthcare services (primary care) and preventive measures (screenings) exacerbates disparities
• Intellectual property rights and patents
  • Monopolization of biotechnology innovations by developed countries through patent protection
  • Creates barriers to affordable access to life-saving treatments (HIV/AIDS medications) for low-income populations

International organizations in health equity

• World Health Organization (WHO)
  • Sets global health priorities and guidelines based on evidence and expert consensus
  • Facilitates international cooperation and knowledge sharing (best practices) to address health disparities
• United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals
  • Addresses health equity as a key component of sustainable development, recognizing its impact on social and economic progress
  • Mobilizes resources and partnerships (public-private) to achieve health-related targets (reducing maternal mortality)
• Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
  • Finances and supports programs to combat major global health threats that disproportionately affect low-income countries
  • Ensures access to essential medicines (antiretrovirals) and diagnostic tools (rapid tests) for these diseases
• GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance
  • Improves access to immunization (childhood vaccines) in low-income countries through funding and partnerships
  • Accelerates the development and delivery of vaccines for diseases that primarily affect developing regions (malaria)

Strategies for equitable biotechnology distribution

• Collaborative research and development
  • Encourages partnerships between developed and developing countries to leverage expertise and resources
  • Promotes technology transfer (knowledge sharing) and capacity building (training) to enable local innovation
• Differential pricing and licensing
  • Implements tiered pricing based on a country's economic status, making biotechnology more affordable for low-income nations
  • Establishes voluntary licensing agreements to enable generic production of essential medicines (tuberculosis drugs)
• Global health funding mechanisms
  1. Increases international aid and investment in healthcare infrastructure (clinics, laboratories) in underserved regions
  2. Establishes global funds specifically for biotechnology research and development targeting neglected diseases (leishmaniasis)
• Strengthening local healthcare systems
  1. Builds capacity for research (clinical trials), manufacturing (vaccine production), and distribution (cold chain) within developing countries
  2. Invests in training and education of healthcare professionals (nurses, researchers) to ensure sustainable access to biotechnology