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Benjamin Loevinsohn, MD, MPH, Bruce Aylward, MD, MPH, Robert Steinglass, MPH, Ellyn Ogden, MPH, Tracey Goodman, MA, BSc and Bjorn Melgaard, MD

Benjamin Loevinsohn is with the World Bank, Washington, DC. Bruce Aylward is with the Global Poliomyelitis Eradication Initiative, Department of Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. Robert Steinglass is with BASICS, Washington, DC. Ellyn Ogden is with the Office of Health and Nutrition, United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC. Tracey Goodman is with the Expanded Programme on Immunization, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. Bjorn Melgaard is with the Department of Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Bruce Aylward, MD, MPH, Department of Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, 20 Ave Appia, 1211-Geneva-27, Switzerland (e-mail: aylwardb{at}who.ch).

The results of 2 large field studies on the impact of the polio eradication initiative on health systems and 3 supplementary reports were presented at a December 1999 meeting convened by the World Health Organization.

All of these studies concluded that positive synergies exist between polio eradication and health systems but that these synergies have not been vigorously exploited. The eradication of polio has probably improved health systems worldwide by broadening distribution of vitamin A supplements, improving cooperation among enterovirus laboratories, and facilitating linkages between health workers and their communities. The results of these studies also show that eliminating polio did not cause a diminution of funding for immunization against other illnesses. Relatively little is known about the opportunity costs of polio eradication.

Improved planning in disease eradication initiatives can minimize disruptions in the delivery of other services. Future initiatives should include indicators and baseline data for monitoring effects on health systems development.