Global health summit in Shanghai calls for increased investment in diagnostic innovation

Leaders and experts worldwide convened the 5th Global Health and Development Summit in Shanghai, calling for increased investment and collaboration in diagnostic innovation to advance global health equity.

The summit, held on Sept 8 as part of the 2024 Pujiang Innovation Forum, focused on the theme of "High-quality Development Global Health Empowered by Innovative Diagnostics." Participants emphasized the crucial role diagnostics play in healthcare decision-making, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.

Zheng Zhi-Jie, China Country Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighted the disparity between the reliance on diagnostics, which accounts for 70 percent of healthcare decisions, and the limited budget allocation of only 3 to 5 percent. The recent World Health Assembly resolution advocated for increased investment in diagnostic tools as a positive step towards addressing this gap.

Li Xin, deputy director-general of the Department of Foreign Expert Services at the Ministry of Science and Technology, stressed the need for global collaboration and talent exchange to drive innovation in the field.

Discussions throughout the summit focused on leveraging AI in pediatric healthcare, fostering local innovation in diagnostics, and creating sustainable funding models. Experts also emphasized the importance of translating research into accessible products for underserved regions.

David Boyle, diagnostics lead at the Seattle-based Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, emphasized the necessity for continuous improvement in the quality of diagnostic tools and global collaboration, especially in vaccine and reagent development.

Weng Ruifen, CEO of Singapore's Diagnostics Development Hub, showcased Singapore's model as a successful case study for global product launches, stressing the importance of a robust diagnostic ecosystem.

The summit concluded with a panel discussion on the accessibility of diagnostic products in low- and middle-income countries. Participants included representatives from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Diagnostics Development Hub, and the United Al Saqer Group, among others.