Original Research Article
Year: 2016 | Month: August | Volume: 6 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 259-267
Exploring R&D and Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) Initiatives on Leishmaniasis (Kala Azar) in India
Ranjana Bharti
Research Scholar, Centre for Studies and Research in Science Technology and Innovation Policy (CSRSTIP), Central University of Gujarat (CUG), Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
ABSTRACT
Kala-azar (Visceral Leishmaniasis) continues to constitute huge public health problems and hurdle towards the socioeconomic development in India. The disease is endemic in more than 88 countries with approximately 350 million people at risk of infection and an estimated 1.3 million new cases annually. Kala azar is more prevalent in three countries of WHO SEA Region - Bangladesh, India and Nepal. India alone accounts for 50% of the global burden of kala azar and State Bihar alone captured almost 50% out of total burden in the Indian subcontinents. It affects the poorest folks on the planet, and is associated with malnutrition, poor housing, population movement, weak immune system and resource deficiency but considerably less attention has been paid on research and development (R&D) of new drugs and vaccine for this infectious disease. In order to overcome the challenges associated with Kala azar, it becomes critical to map the current landscape of R&D by examining patenting activity, ongoing clinical trials, evaluating R&D interest of public and private sector and exploring the emerging public private partnerships (PPPs) initiatives on Kala azar in India. In this regard, the data reveals that only few industries and government research institutions are engaged in R&D efforts. The collaborative PPPs approach regarded as a useful solution to accelerate R&D and could delivers the affordable innovative health solutions by compensating for drug development and market failure by reducing cost and risk sharing.
Key words: Visceral Leishmaniasis, Neglected Diseases, Research and Development, Public private partnership.