What if private companies could obtain some coverage to protect their foreign investments in developing countries against crippling infectious disease outbreaks such as Ebola? The possible path to offering disease outbreak guarantees is an idea being posed by two global health researchers who suggest that a mechanism for establishing such an instrument could be tied to public health investments.
Writing in the Journal of Health Care Finance published online today, global health science and security expert Rebecca Katz, PhD, PhD, an associate professor in Georgetown’s School of Nursing & Health Studies, and Richard Seifman, JD, MBA, an international health consultant formerly of the World Bank, say there is a circular relationship between foreign investments and the ability of a country to fight an infectious disease.
“Foreign companies may be wary of investing in a location that lacks the capacity to mitigate the consequences of disease or exposes workers to dangerous pathogens,” write Katz and Seifman. “Yet, many nations lack the resources to build sufficient capacity to prevent, detect and respond to disease without sufficient investments and improve economic status.”
Katz and Seifman propose a solution that would incentivize potential investors while at the same time encourage development of public health systems to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks.
The two propose that guarantees to potential external investors be provided through an existing mechanism called the “Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency” (MIGA), part of the World Bank Group.
MIGA is designed to guarantee private investors concerned about risks, which impact the decision of whether or not to invest. The researchers say its Articles of Establishment provide flexibility in interpreting what these risks might be and in calculating the premiums required for coverage of such risks.
“We are trying to propose innovative methods to incentivize the development of the public health infrastructure to prevent, detect and respond to infectious disease threats,” explains Katz. “We think MIGA might be one way to do this."
Katz and Seifman suggest that such an innovative mechanism would significantly induce the beneficiary country to take reasonable steps to establish the core elements of a public heath system (“core capacities”) set forth by the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations. This part of the MIGA Agreement would be reinforced by a “breach of contract” clause.
“There is much work to do to explore the possibility of expanding MIGA coverage to deal with public health emergencies, but public health emergencies are here to stay, the public sector cannot do it alone, and the external private sector has much to lose or gain, depending on what core capacities in health are in place,” conclude the authors.
Source: Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
The Next Frontier in Infection Control: AI-Driven Operating Rooms
Published: July 15th 2025 | Updated: July 15th 2025Discover how AI-powered sensors, smart surveillance, and advanced analytics are revolutionizing infection prevention in the OR. Herman DeBoard, PhD, discusses how these technologies safeguard sterile fields, reduce SSIs, and help hospitals balance operational efficiency with patient safety.
Targeting Uncertainty: Why Pregnancy May Be the Best Time to Build Vaccine Confidence
July 15th 2025New national survey data reveal high uncertainty among pregnant individuals—especially first-time parents—about vaccinating their future children, underscoring the value of proactive engagement to strengthen infection prevention.
CDC Urges Vigilance: New Recommendations for Monitoring and Testing H5N1 Exposures
July 11th 2025With avian influenza A(H5N1) infections surfacing in both animals and humans, the CDC has issued updated guidance calling for aggressive monitoring and targeted testing to contain the virus and protect public health.
IP LifeLine: Layoffs and the Evolving Job Market Landscape for Infection Preventionists
July 11th 2025Infection preventionists, once hailed as indispensable during the pandemic, now face a sobering reality: budget pressures, hiring freezes, and layoffs are reshaping the field, leaving many IPs worried about their future and questioning their value within health care organizations.