WHO Director Criticizes ‘Profit-Driven’ Pharma Industry for Ignoring Ebola Vaccine

Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, excoriated pharmaceutical companies for failing to develop an ebola vaccine despite the viruses forty-year run because it attacked people in poorer African countries.

“Ebola emerged nearly four decades ago,” Chan said in remarks to the Regional Committee for Africa Monday. “Why are clinicians still empty-handed, with no vaccines and no cure?

“Because Ebola has historically been confined to poor African nations. The R&D incentive is virtually non-existent. A profit-driven industry does not invest in products for markets that cannot pay. WHO has been trying to make this issue visible for ages. Now people can see for themselves.”

Read Chan’s full remarks HERE.

[h/t WHO / TIME]

[Image via Sergey Uryadnikov / Shutterstock.com]

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