IsDB STI Supported Global Health Initiatives

IsDB is committed to support global health with a science, technology and innovation (STI) strategy in place for its member countries (MCs) in addition to the Bank’s long track record in health financing, global partnerships and timely response to emergencies like the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Hayat Sindi, Senior STI Advisor to IsDB President, shared the Bank’s strategic emphasis on global health in her address to an event on “Developing Molecular Diagnostics in Indonesia,” organised by the Embassy of Indonesia and Nottingham-Indonesia Collaboration for Clinical Research and Training (NICCRAT) on Sunday, 3 October 2021. 

The event was attended by Dr Desra Percaya, Ambassador of Indonesia to the United Kingdom; Mr Owen Jenkins, British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Dr Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Vice Minister of Health, Professor Ali Gufron Mukti, Director of Indonesian Universal Health Coverage, Professor Mohammad Ilyas, University of Nottingham and Professor Aru W. Sudoyo, Indonesia Cancer Association, and Transform Fund winner Dr Susanti Susanti, Molecular Pathology expert at University of Nottingham, UK, among others.

The Bank’s STI Operational Strategy (STIOS 2025) is aimed at fostering innovations to fight diseases and epidemics, among other challenges in IsDB MCs, mentioned Dr Hayat.

She highlighted the Bank’s major support to diagnostics initiatives including global partnerships with health leaders like PATH, Halteres, FIND and WHO in the fields of diagnostics, healthcare technology and transformative innovations, US$ 500 million Transform Fund-supported innovations like molecular diagnostics and testing for Dengue, Chikungunya in Bangladesh and molecular diagnostics and DNA Testing Platform in Nigeria, partnership with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to raise US$ 144 million in supporting the MCs to improve women’s cancer management including diagnostics through dedicated calls for innovation hosted by the Engage platform.

Other responsive and long-term health partnerships are also noted including US$ 2.3 billion Covid-19 special financing for the MCs, IsDBG Vaccine Access Facility (IVAC) support, joint launch of research & technology transfer grant with the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), US$ 150 million support to International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to eliminate cholera, secure water supply and hygiene in 29 member countries.

“IsDB’s commitment to STI is manifested in the establishment of the STI Department for transforming the economies and societies of our MCs, through STI-led solutions across all sectors, including health,” she added.

The STI initiatives will continue its support to future health innovations with emerging technologies with guidance from the STIOS strategic focus on strengthening member country ecosystems for STI and collaborating with development partners including UN Agencies, MDBs, CSOs, NGOs, Academia and the Private Sector to mobilise technical and financial resources for STI.