Ethical and Economic Perspectives on Global Health Interventions

Abstract

We suggest how contemporary global institutions shaping the development, pricing and distribution of vaccines and drugs may be modified to deliver large improvements in health. To support a justice argument for such modification, we show how the current global economic order may contribute to perpetuating poverty and poor health in less-developed countries. To support an economic argument for such intervention, we adduce recent evidence which shows that improving early childhood health raises the future quality of life and, in addition, has multiplier effects, stimulating human capital investment and raising employment and earnings.

Keywords: disease-poverty trap, infant mortality, mother-child transmission of health, globalization, patents, justice, Health Impact Fund

JEL Classification: I2, I18, J18