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American countries are committed
with neglected diseases

June 30th, 2009

MSF calls for States to translate the commitments into action

During the PAHO 144th Executive Committee held in Washington last week, countries recognized the need to act now, and address the needs of the victims of neglected diseases through the implementation of diagnosis and treatment at the primary health care level. The need to strengthen mechanisms of procurement for existing medicines, such as the strategic fund, for distribution to countries was also recognized as being essential so that access to treatment becomes a possibility. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) welcomes these positive steps and calls countries to translate the commitments into action.

“It is clear that there are many diseases that have been silenced and ignored in the Americas, resulting in millions of people suffering and dying of a range of preventable and treatable infectious diseases including Chagas disease. So it is a positive step forward that Member States have recognized the clear link between poverty and neglected diseases, and that they want to do something about it,” said Gemma Ortiz, Senior Advocacy Officer for Neglected Diseases, MSF.

Also recognized within the proposed resolution is the need for further Research and development (R&D) for new and improved diagnostic tools and treatment options. Countries agreed to explore a range of incentive schemes for research and development (R&D) including addressing the de-linkage of the costs of R&D and the price of health products, for example through the award of prizes, with the objective of addressing diseases which disproportionately affect developing countries.

In addition, MSF wants to see more specific commitments for the prevention and treatment of Chagas disease. This opportunity was postponed during the 62nd World Health Assembly (WHA), due to the influenza pandemic preparations. “We will continue to pressure governments to commit to meeting the medical needs of the victims of Chagas disease. This is the 100th anniversary since the discovery of the parasite causing Chagas disease. It affects many Latin American countries, with an estimated 14 million people infected and killing about 14,000 people each year”, says Gemma Ortiz Genovese.

Chagas programmes have traditionally focused on preventing the disease by controlling the “kissing bugs”, the blood-sucking insects that transmit the disease, as well as the screening of blood banks. However, prevention is not enough. Countries should consider in its goals and primary strategies the integration of diagnosis of Chagas disease in the primary health care system, in order to provide treatment and care to all patients for both acute and chronic phases, as well as to reinforce supply chains of existing treatments within countries to scale up access.

“The focus on prevention ignores and silences the needs of those who are already infected and affected by Chagas disease. In endemic countries, governments should do active screening, diagnose and treat many more patients,” said Gemma Ortiz Genovese. “Access to diagnostics and treatment must be made a priority if we are to attend the very real needs of the people of the Americas.” The global challenge imposed by Chagas must also be considered, as more and more cases are being reported in the US, Europe, Australia and Japan as a result of migration and mobility.

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