Diagnostics for Better Health: Considerations for Global Implementation

The report examines the lifecycle of diagnostic products from R&D to patient delivery, highlighting a significant investment gap where 90% of genomics research benefits only 10% of the global population. It advocates for the harmonization of regulatory frameworks, the adoption of 'ASSURED' criteria for resource-limited settings, and the establishment of a Global Alliance for Affordable Diagnostics to improve health outcomes in LMICs.

• There is a profound imbalance in biotechnology investment known as the "10/90 gap", where 90% of research funding in genomics and related biotechnologies is directed toward the needs of only 10% of the world's population.
• To meet the needs of resource-limited settings, the WHO's Sexually Transmitted Diseases Diagnostics Initiative (SDI) defines "ASSURED" characteristics for ideal diagnostic tests: Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and robust, Equipment free, and Delivered to those who need it.
• Diagnostic accessibility in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is critically low; the WHO estimates that only 1% of primary care clinics in these regions possess basic diagnostic capacity.
• The global medical device market is highly concentrated, with 80% of sales occurring in Europe and the Americas, and two-thirds of the leading companies based in the United States.
• Regulatory barriers contribute to slow adoption in LMICs; evidence suggests that ten years after regulatory approval, only one-third of LMICs had begun using certain rapid diagnostic interventions.
• The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostics risks widening health disparities because algorithms are often trained on data sets that exclude ethnic and racial minorities, rural populations, and socio-economically disadvantaged groups.
• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the failure of some diagnostic donations to LMICs due to a lack of consideration for local infrastructure and environmental conditions, leading to equipment failure in different climates.
• The report recommends the creation of a Global Alliance for Affordable Diagnostics (GAAD) to foster sustainable markets and ensure diagnostics are developed to be "fit for purpose" for diverse global markets.

APA

World Economic Forum (2021). Diagnostics for Better Health: Considerations for Global Implementation. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Diagnostics_for_Better_Health_Considerations_for_Globa_%20Implementation_2021.pdf

Chicago

World Economic Forum. Diagnostics for Better Health: Considerations for Global Implementation. 2021. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Diagnostics_for_Better_Health_Considerations_for_Globa_%20Implementation_2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Economic Forum |title=Diagnostics for Better Health: Considerations for Global Implementation |date=February 2021 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Diagnostics_for_Better_Health_Considerations_for_Globa_%20Implementation_2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldeconomicforum2021diagnostics, author = {{World Economic Forum}}, title = {{Diagnostics for Better Health: Considerations for Global Implementation}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2021}, month = feb, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Diagnostics_for_Better_Health_Considerations_for_Globa_%20Implementation_2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }