NZ launch for Fighting the Diseases of Poverty

Human health has been improving globally since the mid 18th Century, with inequalities between countries decreasing and life expectancies in many poorer countries rising dramatically. Yet despite these advances, and record levels of intergovernmental spending on fighting the diseases of poverty, access to medicines and healthcare in poor countries remains low.

Fighting the Diseases of Poverty, edited by Philip Stevens and published by International Policy Network, is a collection of contributions on the topic from international experts. It examines the issues and obstacles, such as corruption, poor governance, central planning and the politicisation of ‘modish’ diseases, and points to what is required to enable poor countries to have self-sustaining, efficient health care systems that allow effective distribution of life-saving medicines.

Philip Stevens is the director of the health programme at the International Policy Network, a UK-based development think tank. He is the author of numerous papers and health policy publications, including The Real Determinants of Health, and he is a frequent commentator on television and radio.

Dr Peter Adams has been executive director of NZAID since 2002. He has worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade since 1972, serving in a variety of roles including as New Zealand Ambassador to China and Mongolia from 1998 to 2001.