Health

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Health
Doing Business with the World - The new role of
corporate leadership in global development
Geneva, September 2007
World Business Council for
Sustainable Development
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Overview

• The global view
• Profile on health care in developing countries
  HIV/AIDS

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The global view
Good health enables individuals to thrive and
participate fully in the economic and social life
of their communities.
Malnutrition contributes to over half of child
deaths. Progress in reducing child malnutrition
has been slow. -WHO (2005). Health in the
Millennium Development Goals
Leading causes of death in 2002, in millions1


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Profile on health care in developing countries
HIV/AIDS
"In 2005, an estimated 15.2 million children had
lost one or both parents to AIDS, 80 per cent of
them in sub-Saharan Africa. By 2010, the figure
is likely to rise to more than 20 million. "  -UN
(2007). "The Millennium Development Goals Report."
Estimated number of adults infected with HIV, by
WHO region, 1980-2003

Source World Health Organization (WHO). 2004.
The World Health Report. http//www.who.int/whr/20
04/en/03_chap1_en.pdf (22 August 2007)
Source UN (2007). "The Millennium Development
Goals Report. "
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Needs Challenges

• Societal needs
• Key challenges limiting progress

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Societal needs

• Improved housing and sanition to prevent
  infectious diseases
• Access to affordable health care -- medical
  practitioners and health care facilities
• Well-equipped and fully-resourced hospitals
• Access to affordable drugs

A healthy workforce is a vital part of any economy
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Key challenges limiting progress
Discrepancies in funding of public health policies
Poor or lacking regulatory frameworks
Inadequate public funding for health care
facilities and infrastructure
In low income households, the first response to
illness tends to be self-medication1
Lack of quality control resulting in the
distribution and use of fake drugs2
Source Health Systems Facts Trends, WBCSD,
2006.
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Opportunities

• What is the size of the market?
• Health care opportunities focus on
  pharmaceuticals
• Key messages
• WBCSD Resources

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What is the size of the market?
Source World Resources Institute. 2007. The Next
4 Billion.
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Health care opportunities focus on
pharmaceuticals

Source World Resources Institute. 2007. The Next
4 Billion.
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Key messages

• For business, investing in improved health
  systems can
• Create new markets and revenue streams by
  developing health care products services for
  the currently underserved
• Create a healthier labor force by investing in
  health care for employees and their communities
• Improve health education by partnering with local
  communities, government and development actors

• For governments, an effective policy framework
  for improved health can
• Improve overall quality of life of the
  population
• Increase the presence of a healthier able-bodied
  workforce
• Reduce economic and societal health care costs
• Lead to innovative partnerships with business and
  development actors to improve health education,
  access and effectiveness of health care

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WBCSD Resources

• Health Systems Facts and trends - Affecting
  business decisions today
• This publication describes ten key health
  topics, including disease, environment and
  health, prevention and personal responsibility,
  health systems and information technology.
• The Business of Health - The Health of Business
  Building the case for health, safety and wellness
• The examples gathered in this publication by
  the WBCSD and IBLF serve to illustrate the
  business case for corporate action on health and
  demonstrate how companies can positively and
  imaginatively engage with these issues to create
  business advantages.
• Intellectual Property Rights in Biotechnology and
  Health Care - Results of a stakeholder dialogue
• This report is a result of a stakeholder
  dialogue among 40 participants from business,
  NGOs, and legal and political experts. It
  discusses controversial issues of intellectual
  property rights in the application of modern
  biotechnology to medical RD.
• Health safety in the cement industry Examples
  of good practice
• Ensuring healthy and safe working conditions
  for employees and contractors is a fundamental
  key to corporate social responsibility, and is
  one of the most important issues for the cement
  industry.

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Photo credits Flickr
www.wbcsd.org/web/development.htm
World Business Council for
Sustainable Development