PND (8/29/2000) -- Gates Foundation Grant to Improve Drug Access in Developing World

Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a nonprofit public health organization headquartered in Boston, will use a $29.9 million grant from the Seattle-based Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve the drug supply systems of developing countries and create new public-private models designed to promote access to drugs and vaccines throughout the world.

Because of budget constraints and poor infrastructure, hundreds of millions of people in developing countries do not currently have access to even basic essential drugs and vaccines.

"Worldwide, millions of adults and children die each year from diseases that could have been treated or prevented if effective and affordable drugs and vaccines had been available and used properly," said Dr. Ron O'Connor, CEO of MSH. "We are grateful to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for giving us this opportunity to demonstrate that local-level, public-private collaboration can significantly increase access and equity."

Over the next five years, MSH will work to develop and test models of public- and private-sector collaboration to improve access in developing countries. MSH will also provide technical support to global initiatives supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that are developing new drugs and vaccines for priority diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

"Management Sciences for Health Receives $29.9 Million Grant From the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation." Management Sciences for Health News Release 9/5/2000.

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