500 Days And Counting: Critical Steps In The Countdown To Achieving MDG 6

Editor’s note: For more on global health, see the September issue of Health Affairs. We are now less than 500 days away from December 31, 2015, the target date for reaching the world’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG). This includes MDG 6, the goal of combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. Astonishing progress has been made to date (as mentioned previously in our Health Affairs Blog post): AIDS-related deaths have fallen 35 percent since their peak in 2005; global mortality from tuberculosis has fallen by 45 percent since 1990; and global malaria mortality rates dropped 42 percent globally between 2000 and 2012. The key, of course, is maintaining this momentum in order to reach our goal. It’s certainly no small task. But, three immediate steps can and must be taken: Enhance cost efficiencies; Build and strengthen partnerships; and Translate scientific developments into practice. Doing More with Existing Resources As we approach the MDG target date, and given economic uncertainties, donors are looking to maximize cost efficiencies and extract greater value out of existing resources. Accordingly, the global health community has been examining priorities and adjusting programs to achieve the greatest impact. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, to use one example, is doing this in several ways. In 2013, it saved $133 million by improving its procurement processes. These savings are now being directed to the core job of saving lives....
Source: Health Affairs Blog - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: All Categories Global Health Public Health Source Type: blogs