I think the key to improving global health is increase involvement of the private sector. The private sector has so much to offer. The private sector should definitely contribute to global health but whether we can call "mandatory 10% profit donation" a donation or philanthropic is an issue.
How do we get the private sector to want to get involved? Can we just have a mandate requiring the private sector to "donate" 10% of its profits? Is it really a donation if we mandate it? I do not believe so. We can't just require 10% profit donation and award the private sector for being philanthropic. Philanthropic means "organized to provide humanitarian or charitable assistance" or benevolent. I believe philanthropic should only be awarded to those who actually volunteer assistance.
I think the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sets a valuable example for others to follow. The Gates Foundation definitely have raised the bar in private involvement. Whether we expect other companies to do as much is another issue. I feel the private sector should contribute as much as they are able to. I feel any assistance is great and will definitely set the trend towards private involvement in global health as a norm.
I feel I am more of an Visionary Entrepreneur. I definitely feel that if an entrepreneur can develop something that is beneficial and impacts global health, then it is okay for that entrepreneur to gain financially. We would all hope that the financial gains would then be cycled back into the global health arena, but I feel we shouldn't push it. The entrepreneur already developed something that impacts global health positively; why isn't that entrepreneur able to earn a living out of it? I feel with any relationship there is a give and a take. We as public health professionals would love for the entrepreneur to give give give and for us to take take take, but we have to understanding a healthy relationship is one where both partners win. The entrepreneur should have the ability to gain financially (take) while developing something that impacts global health positively (give).
I definitely agree that it is possible to be both a business entrepreneur and a social entrepreneur.
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Amy, I'm personally a fan of mandating donations but Ii can see how this would not be received well. It may not be a true donation but funds would be funneled to areas in need.
Even public health workers need money to live. I guess regardless of how selfless we are, we must find a way of getting some back for ourselves. Afterall twigs and fruits are not that much in fashion as entrees anymore.
I agree that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has raised the bar, in terms of philanthropy. However, I am also a fan of at least some sort of mandatory donation. Afterall, companies do already get tax breaks for donations so it works out for them too. And I think it would provide a lot of the necessary funds that just the "benevolent" cannot provide.
Amy, you bring up an interesting point... mandatory donations, arent really donations, but they do help those who receive the money regardless of the funder's intentions (whether philanthropic or for a tax break). It would be ideal to have business people willingly give their time and money, but it is easier said than done.
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