title: Exploring the Case for a Global Alliance for Medical Diagnostics Initiative.
abstract: In recent years, the private and public sectors have increased investments in medical diagnostics for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite these investments, numerous barriers prevent the adoption of existing diagnostics and discourage the development and introduction of new diagnostics in LMICs. In the late 1990s, the global vaccine community had similar challenges, as vaccine coverage rates stagnated and the introduction of new vaccines was viewed as a distraction to delivering existing vaccines. To address these challenges, the international community came together and formed the Global Alliance for Vaccines Initiative (GAVI). Sixteen years after the formation of GAVI, we see evidence of a healthier global vaccine landscape. We discuss how GAVI's four guiding principles (product, health systems strengthening, financing and market shaping) might apply to the advancement of medical diagnostics in LMICs. We present arguments for the international community and existing organizations to establish a Global Alliance for Medical Diagnostics Initiative (GAMDI).
authors.affiliation: Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. mugambi@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mugambi
authors.affiliation: Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA. k-palamountain@kellogg.northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Kara M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Palamountain
authors.affiliation: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA 98109, USA. jim.gallarda@gatesfoundation.org.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gallarda
authors.affiliation: International Clinical Research Center, Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. pkdrain@uw.edu.|Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. pkdrain@uw.edu.|Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. pkdrain@uw.edu.|Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. pkdrain@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Drain
keywords: alliance; global health; low- and middle-income countries; point-of-care diagnostics