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Putting financing for NTDs on the international agenda
Securing innovative, sustainable financing options for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) remains a challenge, and strategies to improve aspects such as procurement are very much needed.
This topic came under the spotlight at the start of this year during World NTD Day. It continues to be a subject of focus, filling the agendas of several international meetings, including an online event that took place on 14 June, hosted by the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) and Uniting Efforts for Innovation, Access, and Delivery.
For the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, investment in NTDs is an important area of focus. Together with external stakeholders, we are currently exploring innovative financing mechanisms to ensure sustainable access to our potential new treatment option for preschool-aged children with schistosomiasis, once registered.
As such, we were delighted that our Consortium member Beatrice Greco, Head of Research & Development and Access for the Global Health Institute of Merck, was invited to participate in the GLIDE and Uniting Efforts meeting. Beatrice took part in a panel discussion, along with representatives from the END Fund, DNDi, and other organizations working in the NTD space. She spoke about sustainable procurement in the context of the novel potential treatment option developed by the Consortium for preschool-aged children suffering from schistosomiasis.