Which new approaches to tackling neglected tropical diseases show promise?

• Main Authors: Jerry M Spiegel, Shafik Dharamsi, Kishor M Wasan, Annalee Yassi, Burton Singer, Peter J Hotez, Christy Hanson, Donald A P Bundy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2010-05-01
• Series: PLoS Medicine
• Online Access: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/20502599/pdf/?tool=EBI

This PLoS Medicine Debate examines the different approaches that can be taken to tackle neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Some commentators, like Jerry Spiegel and colleagues from the University of British Columbia, feel there has been too much focus on the biomedical mechanisms and drug development for NTDs, at the expense of attention to the social determinants of disease. Burton Singer argues that this represents another example of the inappropriate "overmedicalization" of contemporary tropical disease control. Peter Hotez and colleagues, in contrast, argue that the best return on investment will continue to be mass drug administration for NTDs.