The Shining Example Set By Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Contribution

"In a world with many celebrities but few heroes, Bill Gates has attained heroic status by committing much of his enormous fortune to the advancement of global equity," writes Susan Okie, a contributing editor of NEJM, in an opinion piece. According to some people, "the example set by Bill and Melinda Gates has been as important as the money they've donated," Okie writes, adding that "[b]y calling attention to global inequities, they have attracted funding from others and made it fashionable for the rich or famous to become involved in solving global problems." For example, Warren Buffet in June announced a large donation to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a move that likely will "amplif[y]" the foundation's impact on global health, according to Okie. However, the estimated cost associated with "solving" health problems in developing countries is "far higher than even the most optimistic projections for giving by Gates," Okie writes, adding that in order to meet the world's health goals, "international aid would have to increase by a factor of three to seven." While the Gates Foundation has "several notable health-related achievements to date," it is "still evolving, and its leaders acknowledge having made mistakes," Okie writes, adding that perhaps the "greatest influence" the foundation has "derives from its assumption that intractable problems can be solved, given enough money and international cooperation" (Okie, NEJM, 9/14).

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