GPEI Must ‘Take Seriously’ Recommendations In Independent Monitoring Board Report

In this post in the "Health Affairs Blog," diplomacy and global health consultant Judith Kaufmann writes about the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Independent Monitoring Board quarterly report released last week, stating, "What is really new about this report ... is that it does not, as so many GPEI reports have in the past, point the finger at lack of funding, although there is an obvious concern about the funding gap. Rather, the report looks squarely at changes needed in the management of the global program itself." She summarizes those changes and concludes, "In a time of economic hardship around the world and with shrinking development and health assistance budgets it behooves the [GPEI] to take seriously the suggestions made by the Independent Monitoring Board and institute the reforms that will finally permit us to truly say we are on the cusp of eradicating polio" (10/28).