The inalienable relationship of education and health creates a situation where neither can be fully realized without the other. And yet, preventable diseases severely debilitate the world's poorest countries, resulting in large economic loss as well as a dismal future for their children. Health problems can impact greatly a child's ability to go to school, stay in school and thrive in school. Four of the eight Millennium Development Goals focus on improving the world through health. The goal focuses on reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS with the hope of eventual elimination, and yet, we must also remember that other diseases also plague some populations. The objective of this panel is to discuss current models to combat health related issues within a school setting as well as how health impacts access to education. Our urgency to address HIV/AIDS and Neglected Tropical Diseases in the context of schools stems from the possible consequences on the poorest countries if these issues are not fully addressed.

COORDINATOR
Megan Lee, Harvard School of Public Health

In July 2007, the World Bank published a report about the rise of preventable chronic diseases in developing countries. Chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, are the leading cause of death around the world, and 80% of those deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. The increase in the burden of chronic disease is attributable to aging populations, better control of infectious disease, and lifestyle changes. They not only affect the elderly, but also younger adults in the workforce, which greatly impacts family and country economics and hinders development. Addressing the chronic disease epidemic will require a shift in health systems and policy in countries already burdened by lack of financial and personnel resources. While some countries have made tremendous strides in improving their health systems, the chronic disease burden threatens to weaken them once again. This panel will address the economic impact of chronic disease, public policy shifts, and strategies for prevention of disease and promotion of healthy living.

COORDINATOR
Plamen Nikolov, Davis Center, Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences

The emerging conflict between economic and health care priorities brought about by globalization is an important issue for many developing countries. Deficiencies in health (and health policy) are recurrent hypotheses put forward to explain income differences across countries, research into the role of health is needed. Currently, there exists considerable controversy regarding how important health is as a determinant of economic growth. At one end of the spectrum are those who claim that disease is the most important factor constraining growth in many poor countries, so that a successful intervention to fight disease would produce a large economic benefit. At the other end of the spectrum are those who argue that disease eradication, while hugely valuable in humanitarian terms, has historically had no effect on GDP per capita. The existing research does not address this question satisfactorily.

COORDINATOR
Rachel Hoy, Harvard School of Public Health

There is a pressing global need for access to essential medicines to reduce disease burden. New innovations in medicine and public health to improve access require that they are affordable and tailored to the health needs of developing country populations, require rigorous distribution and surveillance systems, sufficient human capital, and a comprehensive systemic approach to address the needs of marginalized populations. Likewise, national and international policies must be developed to reflect population priorities. R&D efforts in developing countries should execute clinical trials approved by international ethics committees and evaluate the involvement of these affected populations in the research process. In addition, coordinated efforts are necessary to accommodate children’s specific drug needs. This panel will examine the global market for essential drugs, including intellectual property and trade rules that impact on access, pharmaceutical policies, health system structure and capacity, pharmacovigilance, ethics, and stakeholder issues surrounding access to essential drugs in a developing country setting.