Tackling diseases in developing countries
We work to tackle some of the root causes of disease and ill-health and contribute to healthier communities around the world.
We are one of the few companies researching treatments and vaccines for all three of the World Health Organization’s priority infectious diseases: malaria, tuberculosis and HIV.
In developing countries, people affected by certain diseases face stigma and discrimination, disability and a vicious cycle of ill health and poverty. Diseases that can be prevented, managed, or cured cause significant suffering and mortality due to a lack of basic knowledge and inadequate health services.
We support activities to tackle these diseases through donations of medicines, financial and practical support. Our global health programmes focus on malaria, lymphatic filariasis and intestinal worms in partnership with governments, NGOs and other organisations to maximise benefits for communities.
We also collaborate closely with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organisation (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and financing agencies such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) to support the introduction of vaccines once they are available. GSK is the leading vaccine supplier to organisations such as UNICEF and PAHO and we provide vaccines to help protect children and babies from infectious diseases including pneumococcal disease, rotavirus gastroenteritis, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), measles, polio, mumps and rubella.