Glossary of Terms

Last updated: 2026-03-27

Overview

This glossary provides definitions for the common terms and acronyms used throughout the ALIGN Global Hub.

Term / Acronym	Definition
ALIGN	Advancing Country-Led Innovation Introduction through Government Engagement and EvideNce.
DALY	Disability-Adjusted Life Year. A measure of overall disease burden, expressed as the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability, or early death.
EML	Essential Medicines List. A list of medicines that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population, maintained by the WHO and national governments.
GBD	Global Burden of Disease. A comprehensive regional and global research program of disease burden that assesses mortality and disability from major diseases, injuries, and risk factors.
GRA	Global Regulatory Approval. Refers to approval or prequalification by a global body such as the WHO, US FDA, or EMA.
IHME	Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
LMIC	Low- and Middle-Income Country.
MNCH	Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health.
NRA	National Regulatory Authority. The government body responsible for regulating health products at the country level.
P2I	Portfolio-to-Impact. A model used to estimate development costs, timelines, and probabilities of success for health product portfolios.
WHO PQ	World Health Organization Prequalification. A service that ensures health products meet global standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.