Weaving bioethics, economics and foreign aid...

A couple of years ago, I came across a brilliant book by reknowned economist Dr. Dambisa Moyo, titled Dead Aid. In it, she offers some very compelling and oftimes controversial analyses on the problem of international NGOs and other agencies providing foreign aid to developing countries, particularly in Africa. The premise for her book is, summarily, that foreign aid has been a crippling and regressive force in Africa, and that elimination of aid will help spur individual countries to explore innovation, sustainable economic and agricultural programs and other means of reducing rates of poverty. She contends that aid removes the incentive for leaders to be held truly accountable for the status of their (our) societies, and that it breeds rampant corruption.

What with the increase in microloans for communities in the developing world, I foresee that the paradigm shift has already gone from provision of aid to a more constructive, sustainable system on the small scale in the developing world. Dr. Moyo's central argument has strong economic, public health and ethical implications for the future of Africa. Let's consider the issue of foreign aid from a bioethical perspective. From the deontological perspective, one can simplistically argue that the provision of aid is a necessary act of goodwill to those that "have not". But does the "rightness" of the distribution of foreign aid to the developing world mitigate what Dr. Moyo describes as a "disease" and "trap" for poor African nations? Consequentially speaking, one could argue that providing sustainable means of economic development in the form of microloans and other programs would be more beneficial and thus more ethically sound than the simple provision of foreign aid, which could inadvertently breed corruption. 

Ultimately, economic growth and decreased poverty are inextricably linked to greater health outcomes. A nation's health is directly proportional to it's human capital and productivity. A closer analysis of the link between economic growth, poverty and health outcomes fosters an shift from theoretizing to practical application of bioethical principles from a multicultural perspective, and an influence on national and international policies the world over.