What does a child born today have to look forward to as they grow up? In global health, a number of lifesaving innovations are making the future feel more hopeful.
The good news is, the world has already proven that progress is possible. Since 2000, child deaths have been cut in half. Maternal mortality has declined by 40%. All because health care workers, researchers, nonprofits, companies, and governments have made big bets on innovation.
But what comes next? The innovations emerging now—some simple, some surprising—could play a huge role in shaping the future of health care, improving and saving even more lives over the next 20 years.
Take the health care quiz below to explore how innovations in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment can work together to advance progress in global health.
How will global health innovations shape tomorrow? Take the quiz
Find out how cutting-edge future global health innovations will change the world of healthcare with our latest quiz.
Nine out of 10 pregnant women in low-income countries don’t get the vitamins and minerals they need to protect their own health and support their baby’s growth and health. A high-quality prenatal supplement could help address these nutritional gaps. How much does it cost per pregnancy?
Correct!
A low-cost combination of 15 essential micronutrients known as a multiple micronutrient supplement Evidence has shown (MMS) to help reduce maternal anemia and improve an infant’s chances of survival. If pregnant women in all low- and middle-countries were to have access to this intervention, up to 25 million babies could experience improved birth outcomes by 2040.
A low-cost combination of 15 essential micronutrients known as a multiple micronutrient supplement Evidence has shown (MMS) to help reduce maternal anemia and improve an infant’s chances of survival. If pregnant women in all low- and middle-countries were to have access to this intervention, up to 25 million babies could experience improved birth outcomes by 2040.
Around 40% of pregnancies worldwide are unintended. By 2045, that number—and the issues that often arise with an unexpected pregnancy—could decline significantly if new contraceptive technologies are clinically approved, affordable, and widely accessible. Which of these are in development?
Correct!
Nearly 40% of women in low- and middle-income countries who begin using a contraceptive will stop within a year because they’re dissatisfied with their method. When women have better options for controlling whether and when to have children, the benefits include healthier families, stronger economies, and more equal societies. And the ripple effects extend across generations.
Nearly 40% of women in low- and middle-income countries who begin using a contraceptive will stop within a year because they’re dissatisfied with their method. When women have better options for controlling whether and when to have children, the benefits include healthier families, stronger economies, and more equal societies. And the ripple effects extend across generations.
When children are infected with malaria, it hits them hard. Millions miss out on schooling because they’re so sick. Many don’t survive. But imagine it’s 2045 and fewer kids are getting sick or dying because of this devastating parasite. What has changed?
Correct!
Insecticide-treated bed nets, introduced broadly around 25 years ago, have prevented millions of malaria cases and deaths. But mosquitoes are wily. They’ve been showing immunity to the main bed net insecticide, pyrethroid. Finding an alternative hasn’t been easy, but a new kind of bed net, treated with two insecticides, is gaining in use in malaria-prone areas. In pilot studies, these new nets have already saved an estimated 25,000 lives.
Insecticide-treated bed nets, introduced broadly around 25 years ago, have prevented millions of malaria cases and deaths. But mosquitoes are wily. They’ve been showing immunity to the main bed net insecticide, pyrethroid. Finding an alternative hasn’t been easy, but a new kind of bed net, treated with two insecticides, is gaining in use in malaria-prone areas. In pilot studies, these new nets have already saved an estimated 25,000 lives.
A lot can go wrong for a woman during and after childbirth, including heavy blood loss, also known as post-partum hemorrhage (PPH). PPH is one of the most common causes of maternal death globally. A simple solution could help change that by 2045. What will health care workers be doing differently?
Correct!
Fourteen million mothers experience PPH each year, and 70,000 don’t survive the rapid blood loss. Part of the problem is estimating how much blood is being lost. Now, a simple, low-cost drape that measures blood loss is helping health care workers identify when to initiate an evidence-based protocol to stop the bleeding. Together, the drape and complementary treatments have been shown to reduce maternal mortality by 60%.
Fourteen million mothers experience PPH each year, and 70,000 don’t survive the rapid blood loss. Part of the problem is estimating how much blood is being lost. Now, a simple, low-cost drape that measures blood loss is helping health care workers identify when to initiate an evidence-based protocol to stop the bleeding. Together, the drape and complementary treatments have been shown to reduce maternal mortality by 60%.
Today, most children receive an array of vaccines in a series of clinic visits. The vaccines protect them from multiple diseases, but all those clinic visits—and needle pokes—can be challenging. Imagine it’s 2045 and more children are getting their recommended vaccines, thanks in part to a combination vaccine that protects against six diseases at once. Which diseases?
Correct!
Expanded vaccine coverage around the world is among the main reasons that childhood mortality has been cut in half since 2000. When the health—and life—of millions of children is on the line, efficiency matters. By combining six antigens in one shot, the 6-in-1 hexavalent vaccine will help ensure that even more children are protected against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, and polio all at once. Bonus: It requires fewer clinic visits and fewer syringes.
Expanded vaccine coverage around the world is among the main reasons that childhood mortality has been cut in half since 2000. When the health—and life—of millions of children is on the line, efficiency matters. By combining six antigens in one shot, the 6-in-1 hexavalent vaccine will help ensure that even more children are protected against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, hepatitis B, and polio all at once. Bonus: It requires fewer clinic visits and fewer syringes.
Imagine being an expectant mother going to a prenatal care appointment and your provider does not have an ultrasound device to check the health of your pregnancy. This is the reality for many women. In many places, the equipment is just too expensive or no radiologist is available to read the images. What proportion of people worldwide, including pregnant women, lack access to diagnostic imaging like ultrasounds?
Correct!
Trained midwives are the key to safe delivery in resource-poor countries. But without access to ultrasound—a routine tool in high-income countries—there’s a lot they can’t know. Now, low-cost, portable ultrasound devices are helping to detect serious pregnancy complications and reduce fetal deaths. Soon, devices that are powered by artificial intelligence will make ultrasounds even simpler to use.
Trained midwives are the key to safe delivery in resource-poor countries. But without access to ultrasound—a routine tool in high-income countries—there’s a lot they can’t know. Now, low-cost, portable ultrasound devices are helping to detect serious pregnancy complications and reduce fetal deaths. Soon, devices that are powered by artificial intelligence will make ultrasounds even simpler to use.
Tuberculosis (TB) kills 1.2 million people each year, making it the world’s deadliest infection. An additional 2 million people are likely carrying the infection but remain undiagnosed. Imagine it’s 2045 and mortality from TB has fallen dramatically. What has been the key to the decline?
Correct!
A major challenge to containing TB is that many people with the disease can go undiagnosed, and some might also be asymptomatic. That’s a problem for two reasons: they aren’t getting early treatment, and they may be unknowingly spreading the infection. New tools promise to make diagnosis cheaper and simpler: all they require is a swab of the tongue. They don’t require specialized lab work, making the tests easier to use and scale – especially when health workers get the right training and support. These tools are highly accurate, straightforward to operate, and are affordable enough that even the smallest clinics in TB-prone areas can keep them on hand, so patients can be diagnosed right where they seek care.
Incorrect!
A major challenge to containing TB is that many people with the disease can go undiagnosed, and some might also be asymptomatic. That’s a problem for two reasons: they aren’t getting early treatment, and they may be unknowingly spreading the infection. New tools promise to make diagnosis cheaper and simpler: all they require is a swab of the tongue. They don’t require specialized lab work, making the tests easier to use and scale – especially when health workers get the right training and support. These tools are highly accurate, straightforward to operate, and are affordable enough that even the smallest clinics in TB-prone areas can keep them on hand, so patients can be diagnosed right where they seek care.
True or false: When high-income countries fund global health R&D, all of the funding flows directly to low-income countries.
Correct!
When high-income countries support global health R&D, 90% of that funding actually goes to research institutions in high-income countries, and 76% of it stays within the funding country itself. Investing in global health R&D not only helps save lives around the world, but it’s a smart investment in domestic economic growth and innovation—and leads to breakthroughs that can benefit everyone.
Incorrect!
When high-income countries support global health R&D, 90% of that funding actually goes to research institutions in high-income countries, and 76% of it stays within the funding country itself. Investing in global health R&D not only helps save lives around the world, but it’s a smart investment in domestic economic growth and innovation—and leads to breakthroughs that can benefit everyone.
So what do we think the next 20 years will bring? The future of health care isn’t set, but the innovations we just explored offer a glimpse of what’s possible: Communities around the world that are healthier and more resilient. Healthy moms who give birth to healthy babies, no matter where they live. And the next generation growing up without fear of deadly infectious diseases.
Sign up for The Optimist newsletter
Subscribe to The Optimist to get weekly updates on the latest in global health, gender equality, education, and more.
By submitting your email to subscribe, you agree to the Gates Foundation’s Privacy & Cookies Notice.
