Quantitative revenue estimates and qualitative assessments of innovative fundraising sources for treating rare diseases in Colombia

Background: Like many developing countries, Colombia faces difficulties in financing health-care services as well as programs for health promotion and health education and there is evidence that its health-care system is underperforming. Objective: To provide evidence-based estimates of potential funding levels and assess the strengths, weaknesses, and viability of innovative funding mechanisms with a focus on treating rare diseases in Colombia. Methods: The strategy involved evidence-based projections of potential funding levels and a qualitative viability assessment using an expert panel. Results: Crowdfunding, corporate donation, and social impact bonds (SIBs) were deemed to be the most viable of numerous potential strategies. Expected funding levels over 10 years for rare diseases in Colombia from crowdfunding, corporate donations, and SIBs were roughly $7,200, $23,000, and $12,400, respectively. Conclusions: Based on the combination of projected funding potential along with expert consensus regarding viability and operability, crowdfunding, corporate donations, and SIBs, especially in combination, have the potential to substantially improve funding for vulnerable patient populations in Colombia.