Several South-South partnerships are perceived as more economical, effective and favourable compared to North-South aid relations.
Vaccine hoarding limited the Impact of Efforts to reduce North-South Inequity
By 
2023-05-02T15:13:54+00:00May 15, 2023|
This article is part of the World Economic Forum’s Intelligence Map on Sustainable Development, which was co-curated by Southern Voice. Explore the map here.
Two highlights from the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), which hinges on Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3).
To date, a lack of clean drinking water, adequate food, proper housing, energy access, and healthcare services including vaccination has impeded the attainment of SDG 3 in the developing world.
Though efforts have been made to reduce inequalities between the Global North and South, vaccine hoarding during the pandemic and a reluctance to subsidize the cost of healthcare has limited their impact.
More recently, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered rising food and fuel prices and raised production and transportation costs globally – constraining fiscal capacity in developing countries, alongside their ability to provide vaccines and healthcare services. This has been compounded where violent conflict within some countries is further hindering access. In addition, climate change has caused more frequent droughts, floods, and wildfires globally, and the Global South has had to deal with a disproportionate share of these extreme events – which have their own, cumulative impact on access to healthcare, particularly in places where people are most in need.
Increased investment in research and development related to the manufacturing of vaccines and essential health products, in addition to the improvement of medical facilities, could help reduce inequality and accelerate progress on SDG 3 in the Global South. The US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the World Bank, Germany, and France are collaborating on a joint investment expected to enhance vaccine manufacturing and close the vaccine gap, and the International Financial Corporation (IFC), in partnership with equipment manufacturers and financial institutions, has launched an effort to make health systems more resilient in parts of the Global South. Such collaboration and partnership between hemispheres are necessary to bolster the distribution of vaccines and healthcare products.
Meanwhile greater cooperation within the Global South, and the dedication of larger proportions of GDP to healthcare, is urgently needed to ensure greater local resources and to develop economies of scale when it comes to production. There is also a need for more training of healthcare professionals, more concerted staff retention efforts, more product R&D investment, and better equipping of facilities in marginalized and rural communities.
