World Bank plans increased spend on maternity drugs
Aim is to help poor countries reduce fertility rates and cut mortality rates
The World Bank has signalled plans to boost its funding for drugs that protect mothers from harm or death when giving birth. Its pledge comes as part of a new five-year plan to run from 2010 to 2015 to help poor countries reduce their fertility rates and prevent deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth.
In a communiqué, the bank noted: ‘Severe bleeding after birth, which can be quickly fatal, can be effectively controlled by drugs such as Oxytocin. Eclampsia can be detected during pregnancy, and drugs such as magnesium sulfate can be used to lower the risk of fatal convulsions.’
It stressed World Bank health financing in the financial year 2010-11 is to triple to an unprecedented US$4.1bn, 40% higher than the previous year.