New report calls for urgent action to scale innovation and ensure equitable access
to life-saving tools
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 27 August 2025 – The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, together with UNICEF and The Global Fund, today released a joint report urging greater innovation and access in the fight against preventable infectious diseases.
The report, “Scaling Innovation to Maximize Global Health Impact,” reveals the staggering toll of treatable diseases: in 2023, tuberculosis killed 1.25 million people and malaria took 600,000 lives, mostly in low- and middle-income countries.
While breakthroughs such as AI diagnostics, biotech therapies, and solar-powered oxygen machines are emerging, their impact will remain limited without stronger systems to deliver them equitably. The report calls for urgent collaboration to bridge the gap between innovation and access, aligning policy, financing, and education to ensure every community benefits.
Richard Attias, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Acting CEO of FII Institute, said:
“Collaboration is paramount when faced with the mounting death toll of preventable diseases. Innovation in technology and economics must move hand-in-hand to build stronger, more resilient health systems. I am proud of the progress FII Institute continues to drive through global partnerships in pursuit of this mission.”
Helga Fogstad, Director, Health Programme, UNICEF added: “Innovation can only save children’s lives when it reaches them. Our job is to make sure every breakthrough becomes an everyday tool – for every child, everywhere – always keeping the most vulnerable in focus.”
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, emphasized: “From the outset, the Global Fund has been driven by the belief that no one should die from a preventable disease. Through a unique, multistakeholder partnership, we have pushed AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria into retreat — and now we can defeat them for good. We must build on our successes, harness innovation, and ultimately put an end to these formidable diseases.”
-ends-
The complete report, along with in-depth findings, is available here.
About FII Institute
FII Institute is a global nonprofit with a single pressing agenda: Impact on Humanity. Global, inclusive and driven by data, we foster great minds from around the world and turn ideas into real-world solutions and actions in four critical areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics, Education, Healthcare and Sustainability. https://fiiinstitute.org/
About UNICEF
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.
About The Global Fund
The Global Fund is a worldwide partnership to defeat HIV, TB and malaria and ensure a healthier, safer, more equitable future for all. We raise and invest up to US$5 billion a year to fight the deadliest infectious diseases, challenge the injustice that fuels them, and strengthen health systems and pandemic preparedness in more than 100 of the hardest hit countries. We unite world leaders, communities, civil society, health workers and the private sector to find solutions that have the most impact, and we take them to scale worldwide. Since 2002, the Global Fund partnership has saved 65 million lives.
For media inquiries and further details, please contact:
