Global Diagnostic Imaging, Healthcare IT and Radiation Therapy Trade Association (DITTA)
1 of 2 8 July 2015
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
REQUEST FOR RE-INCLUSION OF TECHNOLOGIES UNDER HEALTH GOAL 3: TARGET 3B
1. The issue: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the post 2015 successors to the Millennium Development Goals. These are due to be ratified at the UN General Assembly in September. The current published draft version is still being negotiated. However, the word technologies (reference to medical technologies) has been deleted from the health goal 3, target 3b.
2. The Request: We urgently request the inclusion of technologies as it is critical in saving lives and providing patient care in any health setting.
3. The importance of Technologies in SDGs for health: Medical Technologies (which includes medical devices) are critical in any health delivery system and help in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management and control of diseases and maternal, newborn and child health. In fact, the WHO framework on Strengthening Health Systems refers to “medical products, vaccines and technologies” as an essential building block for health systems. Medical Technologies are critical in saving lives.
Furthermore, medical technologies are used in all health settings including:
Triage, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, e.g., in a pandemic or health outbreak
Maternal, newborn and child health
Cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment
Daily diagnosis, monitoring and treatment in health settings ranging from blood tests to blood pressure testing to diagnosing diabetes
It cannot be overemphasized that without medical technologies, health systems would “collapse” as health professionals and patients rely on the use of technologies in every health setting on a daily basis globally.
4. Examples of Medical Technologies Contributions
Many of the examples are referenced to in the Compendium of innovative health technologies for low-resource settings published by WHO: 2011- 2013.
4.1. Infant warmers
There are over 20 million premature and low birth weight babies born each year globally, with more than 95% born in developing countries. Three million babies die within the first 28 days of their life, with more than a quarter of these deaths occurring in India alone. Those who survive often grow up to have lifelong problems such as low IQ, early onset of diabetes, and heart diseases. Hypothermia is a significant problem faced by many of these babies.
4.2. LED Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) occurs in at least 60% of term infants. If untreated, it can cause irreversible brain damage.
4.3. Detection of Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis is the second deadliest infectious disease in the world. With early detection and proper treatment, most people with tuberculosis can fully recover. Tuberculosis detection is done through medical technologies and this can help to save millions of lives worldwide.
4.4. Ultrasound for maternal and newborn and child care pathways
The device addresses the issues of maternal death, maternal near misses, newborn death, and stillbirths. Obstetric complications that may be detected by ultrasound include: placenta praevia, foetal malposition, multiple gestations, ectopic pregnancy, retained placental products, foetal anomalies, and foetal demise.
2 of 2 8 July 2015
4.5. HIV/AIDS (need to add details 1 example from Gisela ref from compendium)
At the end of 2012, there were 35.3 million people living with HIV (half of which were women) and 2.7 million new infections globally. Only 39% of people aged 15–49 years living with HIV reported in 2007-08 had ever received an HIV test. %. In 2010, 3.4 million children under the age of 15 were living with HIV globally. Medical technologies are used in the diagnosis of HIV and this is required to diagnose and treat mothers, babies and adults in general.
4.6. Radiotherapy treatment for Cancer
Radiotherapy is a clinically relevant and cost-effective treatment modality that plays a key role in an integrated cancer therapy program, and should be used as a form of treatment in 40-50% of all cancer cases. Used as a curative or palliative treatment, the aim of radiotherapy is to precisely target tumors while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue resulting in a reduction of side effects when used in treating tumors in the breast, prostate, head and neck, and lung, among other disease sites.
Proton therapy is a form of radiotherapy that may be used to treat pediatric cancers which pose unique challenges to clinicians both during and after treatment due to the heightened sensitivity of developing organs.
5. Suggestion for Change to SDG 3.b.:
The change requested is in the excerpt below from the draft SDGs Goal 3 - Target 3b. We want the term technologies included after medicines.
Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Current draft SDGs Goal 3 target 3B:
“3.b support research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the TRIPS agreement regarding flexibilities to protect public health and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.”
Suggested final SDGs Goal 3 target 3B:
“3.b support research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines, technologies, and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the TRIPS agreement regarding flexibilities to protect public health and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.”
6. Conclusion:
Medical technologies provide cost-effective means of preventing, early diagnosing and treating patients, including in developing countries. Technological solutions can contribute to positive patient outcomes, and can further support broader goals of building health infrastructure and investing in human capital.
About DITTA:
DITTA is the global voice for diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, healthcare IT, electromedical and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers to better communicate, coordinate and collaborate on matters of common interest between participating associations and member companies. DITTA membership is currently comprised of COCIR (Europe), JIRA (Japan), ITAC (Canada), MEDEC (Canada), MITA (United States), THAIMED (Thailand), IMEDA (Russia), CAMDI (China), ABIMED (Brazil) and KMDICA (Korea). DITTA enables participating associations and their member companies to work more effectively with international policymakers, organizations, professional associations and stakeholders. DITTA has the status of NGO in official relations with World Health Organisation.
More information on DITTA, visit the website www.globalditta.org.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
REQUEST FOR RE-INCLUSION OF TECHNOLOGIES UNDER HEALTH GOAL 3: TARGET 3B
1. The issue: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the post 2015 successors to the Millennium Development Goals. These are due to be ratified at the UN General Assembly in September. The current published draft version is still being negotiated. However, the word technologies (reference to medical technologies) has been deleted from the health goal 3, target 3b.
2. The Request: We urgently request the inclusion of technologies as it is critical in saving lives and providing patient care in any health setting.
3. The importance of Technologies in SDGs for health: Medical Technologies (which includes medical devices) are critical in any health delivery system and help in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management and control of diseases and maternal, newborn and child health. In fact, the WHO framework on Strengthening Health Systems refers to “medical products, vaccines and technologies” as an essential building block for health systems. Medical Technologies are critical in saving lives.
Furthermore, medical technologies are used in all health settings including:
Triage, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, e.g., in a pandemic or health outbreak
Maternal, newborn and child health
Cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment
Daily diagnosis, monitoring and treatment in health settings ranging from blood tests to blood pressure testing to diagnosing diabetes
It cannot be overemphasized that without medical technologies, health systems would “collapse” as health professionals and patients rely on the use of technologies in every health setting on a daily basis globally.
4. Examples of Medical Technologies Contributions
Many of the examples are referenced to in the Compendium of innovative health technologies for low-resource settings published by WHO: 2011- 2013.
4.1. Infant warmers
There are over 20 million premature and low birth weight babies born each year globally, with more than 95% born in developing countries. Three million babies die within the first 28 days of their life, with more than a quarter of these deaths occurring in India alone. Those who survive often grow up to have lifelong problems such as low IQ, early onset of diabetes, and heart diseases. Hypothermia is a significant problem faced by many of these babies.
4.2. LED Phototherapy for neonatal jaundice
Neonatal jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) occurs in at least 60% of term infants. If untreated, it can cause irreversible brain damage.
4.3. Detection of Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis is the second deadliest infectious disease in the world. With early detection and proper treatment, most people with tuberculosis can fully recover. Tuberculosis detection is done through medical technologies and this can help to save millions of lives worldwide.
4.4. Ultrasound for maternal and newborn and child care pathways
The device addresses the issues of maternal death, maternal near misses, newborn death, and stillbirths. Obstetric complications that may be detected by ultrasound include: placenta praevia, foetal malposition, multiple gestations, ectopic pregnancy, retained placental products, foetal anomalies, and foetal demise.
2 of 2 8 July 2015
4.5. HIV/AIDS (need to add details 1 example from Gisela ref from compendium)
At the end of 2012, there were 35.3 million people living with HIV (half of which were women) and 2.7 million new infections globally. Only 39% of people aged 15–49 years living with HIV reported in 2007-08 had ever received an HIV test. %. In 2010, 3.4 million children under the age of 15 were living with HIV globally. Medical technologies are used in the diagnosis of HIV and this is required to diagnose and treat mothers, babies and adults in general.
4.6. Radiotherapy treatment for Cancer
Radiotherapy is a clinically relevant and cost-effective treatment modality that plays a key role in an integrated cancer therapy program, and should be used as a form of treatment in 40-50% of all cancer cases. Used as a curative or palliative treatment, the aim of radiotherapy is to precisely target tumors while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue resulting in a reduction of side effects when used in treating tumors in the breast, prostate, head and neck, and lung, among other disease sites.
Proton therapy is a form of radiotherapy that may be used to treat pediatric cancers which pose unique challenges to clinicians both during and after treatment due to the heightened sensitivity of developing organs.
5. Suggestion for Change to SDG 3.b.:
The change requested is in the excerpt below from the draft SDGs Goal 3 - Target 3b. We want the term technologies included after medicines.
Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Current draft SDGs Goal 3 target 3B:
“3.b support research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the TRIPS agreement regarding flexibilities to protect public health and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.”
Suggested final SDGs Goal 3 target 3B:
“3.b support research and development of vaccines and medicines for the communicable and non-communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries, provide access to affordable essential medicines, technologies, and vaccines, in accordance with the Doha Declaration which affirms the right of developing countries to use to the full the provisions in the TRIPS agreement regarding flexibilities to protect public health and, in particular, provide access to medicines for all.”
6. Conclusion:
Medical technologies provide cost-effective means of preventing, early diagnosing and treating patients, including in developing countries. Technological solutions can contribute to positive patient outcomes, and can further support broader goals of building health infrastructure and investing in human capital.
About DITTA:
DITTA is the global voice for diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy, healthcare IT, electromedical and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers to better communicate, coordinate and collaborate on matters of common interest between participating associations and member companies. DITTA membership is currently comprised of COCIR (Europe), JIRA (Japan), ITAC (Canada), MEDEC (Canada), MITA (United States), THAIMED (Thailand), IMEDA (Russia), CAMDI (China), ABIMED (Brazil) and KMDICA (Korea). DITTA enables participating associations and their member companies to work more effectively with international policymakers, organizations, professional associations and stakeholders. DITTA has the status of NGO in official relations with World Health Organisation.
More information on DITTA, visit the website www.globalditta.org.