The 10/90 gap refers to the statistical finding of the Global Forum for Health Research that only 10% of worldwide expenditure on health research and development is devoted to the problems that primarily affect the poorest 90% of the world's population.
Among other efforts to address this issue are recent proposals for a Global R&D treaty, and the creation of the nonprofit pharmaceutical company OneWorld Health which develops new and affordable medicines for neglected diseases.
The 10/90 gap has been criticized on the grounds that "neglected diseases" actually comprise a relatively small disease burden compared to pneumonia, diarrhea, tobacco and obesity-related diseases, and that many of the diseases most prevalent in poorer countries are either preventable or easily treatable.[1]