Forbes: How To Cure An Infectious Disease In The World’s Poorest Countries
Gregg Alton, executive vice president of corporate & medical affairs at Gilead Sciences

“…[T]oday’s greatest health challenges also compete with other urgent policy crises — terrorism, refugees, climate change — for attention and resources. It is exceedingly difficult for any health condition to rise to the top of the political agenda. We are unlikely to see major new global health funding streams that would allow countries to make large health investments. Even in nations with a strong commitment to public health, their attention is splintered by numerous priorities. … [T]he reality is national health systems are not currently prepared or designed to make upfront investments in new medicines, even if they will yield long-term savings. … We need new approaches. … [N]o single actor can provide access to treatment, so pharmaceutical companies must collaborate with national governments, non-profits, and other private sector players in order to reach patients in need” (10/27).