NR 553 Week 7 Technology Transfer

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-553: Global Health

Prof. Name:

Date

Week 7: Technology Transfer

According to Padmanabhan, Amin, Sampat, Cook-Deegan, and Chandrasekharan (2010), the majority of deaths from cervical cancer occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), primarily due to limited access to regular gynecological screenings. This issue is further compounded by the restricted availability of vaccines in these regions, which is mainly a result of their high production and retail costs.

The authors explain that local vaccine manufacturing within LMICs could help reduce costs significantly. Countries such as Brazil, India, and China serve as successful examples—they have managed to produce affordable, high-quality vaccines that comply with international standards. Consequently, international organizations, including UNICEF, now procure vaccines from these local manufacturers to supply to low-income regions.

However, developing country vaccine manufacturers (DCVMs) face substantial challenges due to limited access to advanced technologies. Intellectual property rights often act as a barrier to technology transfer. Although DCVMs have not yet encountered severe patent restrictions, future challenges are anticipated as LMICs align with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. Under this framework, vaccine producers must comply with international patent laws, which may hinder affordable vaccine production.

Despite these obstacles, Padmanabhan et al. (2010) emphasize that such limitations should not deter the efforts of DCVMs. Governments, regional organizations, and international stakeholders should take active measures to support accessible vaccine production. Furthermore, academic institutions play a critical role in technology transfer by offering research expertise and developing licensing frameworks that facilitate, rather than obstruct, low-cost vaccine production.

Professor Response to Post

Question

Have there been any public/private global collaborations that transcended differences to address a huge public health issue? What can we learn from these? What was the catalyst for such action?

Response

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have been instrumental in driving progress on global health issues. According to Yaïch (2009), PPPs bring together government agencies and private organizations to combine financial and technical resources, often focusing on healthcare improvements in LMICs. Such partnerships are supported by major international bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank, United Nations (UN), UNICEF, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private corporations.

A key advantage of PPPs is their capacity to bridge gaps in vaccine accessibility. Since vaccine development involves high costs and uncertain financial returns—especially in poorer countries—collaboration between the public and private sectors can mitigate risks. A prime example of this success is seen in the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) Project, which demonstrates how coordinated efforts can achieve major public health advancements (PATH, n.d.).

Case Example: Japanese Encephalitis Project

Element	Details
Disease	Japanese Encephalitis (JE) – a mosquito-borne viral infection primarily affecting children in Southeast Asia and Western Pacific countries.
Health Impact	Causes flu-like symptoms, seizures, coma, and long-term disability. No cure exists; vaccination is the sole preventive measure.
Challenges	Weak disease surveillance, limited vaccine supply, insufficient advocacy, and lack of programmatic support.
Catalyst for Action	In 2004, PATH received a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to initiate the JE Project.
Collaborating Partners	PATH, WHO, national governments, and the Chengdu Institute of Biological Products (CDIBP) in China.
Outcomes	• Strengthened disease surveillance systems. • Expanded data-driven vaccine introduction. • Negotiated affordable public-sector pricing for the Chinese vaccine SA 14-14-2. • Supported WHO prequalification process.
Beneficiary Countries	India, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and North Korea.

This case underscores how PPPs encourage innovation through the synergy of public accountability and private sector efficiency. Rather than replacing existing organizations, they strengthen global health systems by promoting the rapid development and equitable distribution of life-saving tools such as vaccines.

Response to Peer Post

Mobile health (mHealth) technologies represent a transformative advancement in healthcare delivery, particularly in areas with limited access to traditional medical infrastructure. By utilizing mobile devices, healthcare providers can share critical health information, deliver education, and monitor population health outcomes remotely. Nevertheless, several challenges hinder full adoption, including privacy concerns, literacy barriers, cultural sensitivities, and the cost of mobile technologies.

Collaboration between governments, NGOs, and private donors could play a pivotal role in making mHealth solutions more affordable and accessible. When successfully implemented, mHealth can bridge healthcare disparities by connecting remote populations with essential health services.

Additionally, telemedicine (e-health) offers another promising avenue for improving global health equity. It enables resource-limited regions to access advanced healthcare expertise and consultations from specialists worldwide. However, the challenges differ between developing and developed contexts.

Region	Key Barriers
Developing Countries	High costs, inadequate infrastructure, and limited technical expertise.
Developed Countries	Legal and privacy concerns, competing healthcare priorities, and limited perceived demand.

For sustainable implementation, national health authorities must coordinate telemedicine programs to ensure they are contextually relevant, cost-effective, adequately funded, and subject to continuous evaluation for long-term success (Alajmi, Almansour, & Househ, 2013).

References

Alajmi, D., Almansour, S., & Househ, M. S. (2013). Recommendations for implementing telemedicine in the developing world. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 190, 118–120.

Padmanabhan, S., Amin, T., Sampat, B., Cook-Deegan, R., & Chandrasekharan, S. (2010). Intellectual property, technology transfer and developing country manufacture of low-cost HPV vaccines: A case study of India. Nature Biotechnology, 28(7), 671–678. https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0710-671