Save Money Save Lives

"Risky Business: How Better Demand Forecasting Can Save Money and Lives"

Featured speakers include:
• Ruth Levine, Center for Global Development
• Prashant Yadav, MIT-Zaragoza International Logistics Program
• Neelam Sekhri, The Healthcare Redesign Group
• Mark Rilling, U.S. Agency for International Development
• Jeffrey Sturchio, Merck & Co., Inc.

May 29, 2007

The success of global health programs largely depends on the availability of essential health products when and where they are needed. But weak links in the global health value chain are currently constraining on-the-ground access to drugs, vaccines and diagnostics--despite increased funding and ongoing scientific advances. Shortcomings in demand forecasting in particular have led to unnecessarily high prices, supply shortages, and reluctance to invest in R&D for developing country diseases. This event marks the launch of a new report by the Global Health Forecasting Working Group, issuing key recommendations for donors to make strategic investments that would increase access to information and better align forecasting incentives, as well as suggestions for ways that donors could use innovative financing mechanisms to further reduce uncertainty and diversify and share risk in the supply chain. Their proposed improvements could have profound benefits for funders, suppliers and implementers in terms of both financial and health outcomes.