Bill Gates at Health Assembly: World is Failing Billions of People

Geneva, May 16, 2005 (PAHO)—In an address to health ministers from 192 countries at the World Health Assembly, Bill Gates said today, "The world is failing billions of people" and must act more aggressively to fight disease and reduce inequity.

"We are not doing enough to deliver the solutions we do have, and we're not spending enough to find the solutions we don't have. As a result, millions of people die every year. This doesn't tell a flattering story about humanity, but the story isn't over. In fact, the story is starting to change," said Gates.

Gates called for action by governments to increase efforts to improve global health, for more scientific research to develop solutions for diseases in developing countries, for more funding to deliver health tools and design new ones, and for market incentives so the private sector will invest in "the discovery and delivery of health tools for the developing world."

Gates, who heads the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has an endowment of $28 billion, also announced a new $250 million commitment for its Grand Challenges global health research initiative, adding to the original $200 million committed when the initiative was launched in 2003. So far, the foundation has committed a total of $4.9 billion to global health grantees, he said.

"There is no bigger test for humanity than the crisis of global health. Solving it will require the full commitment of our hearts and minds. We need both. Without compassion, we won't do anything, and without science, we can't do anything. So far we have not applied all we have of either," Gates said.

Pan American Health Organization Director Dr. Mirta Roses said, "We really welcome Bill Gates' message, especially the need to reduce health inequities and to involve governments and the private sector, in both developed and developing countries, in researching, designing and delivering the health interventions we need to save lives."

Roses said the priorities cited by Gates "are crucial in the fight to improve the health of the poorest people in developing countries, but so is his optimism, compassion, and fresh outlook to help us change the sad situation of people dying from preventable causes."

The 58th World Health Assembly, which opened today in Geneva, is the supreme decision-making body for the World Health Organization. It is reviewing the proposed budget for 2006-2007 and discussing a wide range of issues such as the International Health Regulations, preparedness for an influenza pandemic, polio eradication, malaria, a global immunization strategy, social health insurance, and others.

The Pan American Health Organization, founded in 1902, is the Regional Office of WHO for the Americas and works with all the countries in the region to improve the health and quality of life of their peoples.