University of Minnesota, USA
J Law Med Ethics. 2009 Winter;37(4):781-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-720X.2009.00448.x.
Billions of people live in poverty, with no access to safe drinking water or solutions for other critical health and medical needs. Nanotechnology is poised to create workable solutions for large-scale public health needs in developing countries, including improving water quality and providing life-saving pharmaceuticals. There are two views on how emerging technologies such as nanotechnology can influence and affect developing countries. Instrumentalists believe that the international community can transfer nanotechnology from one context to another and use it to assist the poor. Contextualists warn that nanotechnology can increase inequality in underdeveloped regions. Because of inadequacies in both positions, the international community must adopt a mixed strategy. This article argues that this mixed strategy should target the bottom of the pyramid, develop native capability, implement emergency protocols in projects, create accountability, and engage the public. Managed well, this strategy can propel developing countries toward sustainable development.
数十亿人生活在贫困之中，无法获得安全饮用水或其他关键健康和医疗需求的解决方案。纳米技术有望为发展中国家的大规模公共卫生需求创造可行的解决方案，包括改善水质和提供救命药品。对于新兴技术（如纳米技术）如何影响和影响发展中国家，存在两种观点。工具主义者认为，国际社会可以将纳米技术从一个环境转移到另一个环境，并利用它来帮助穷人。情境主义者警告说，纳米技术可能会加剧欠发达地区的不平等。由于这两种立场都存在不足，国际社会必须采取混合策略。本文认为，这种混合策略应该针对金字塔的底部，发展本土能力，在项目中实施紧急协议，建立问责制，并让公众参与进来。如果管理得当，这种策略可以推动发展中国家走向可持续发展。
