Abstract
Globally, there are growing efforts to address diseases through the advancement in health research and development (R&D), strengthening of regional cooperation in science and technology (particularly on product discovery and development), and implementation of the World Health Assembly Resolution 61.21 (WHA61.21) on the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (GSPA-PHI). As such, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is responding to this through the establishment of the ASEAN-Network for Drugs, Diagnostics, Vaccines, and Traditional Medicines Innovation (ASEAN-NDI). This is important in the ASEAN considering that infectious tropical diseases remain prevalent, emerging, and reemerging in the region. This paper looks into the evolution of the ASEAN-NDI from its inception in 2009, to how it is at present, and its plans to mitigate public health problems regionally and even globally.
Highlights
There are growing efforts to address diseases through the advancement in health research and development (R&D), strengthening of regional cooperation in science and technology, and implementation of the World Health Assembly Resolution 61.21 (WHA61.21) on the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (GSPA-PHI)
The need for an ASEAN-led Health R&D innovation The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has a continuum of member nations at different stages of economic and health development, with the majority of the countries belonging to the middle- and low-income categories [1]
Infectious tropical diseases continue to be a challenge to the health sector despite developments in health research and development (R&D) and medical technology
Summary
To ensure that health technology development and the capacity of member states are appropriately maximized and managed according to regional health needs. In a recent study by Hotez and Papageorgiou (2013), it was deduced that one way to address NTDs and infections of poverty is to establish a center for fundamental and translational research in which product development activities including R&D on drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines are conducted [19] This is the main thrust of the ASEANNDI, and with many countries sharing the same health challenges, the Network may be the link to providing solutions in the ASEAN but in other regions as well. The ASEAN-NDI will coordinate research by partnering with research networks, developing capacity-building initiatives, supporting R&D infrastructural improvement, advocating for more research investment, and enhancing regional access to health products It will start by enhancing collaboration among the ASEAN member states to address the specific health needs of the ASEAN, but collaboration with other countries will soon follow. This will capacitate the different regions to contribute to the advancement of global health R&D while providing solutions for their own health challenges
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