Jayasree K. Iyer returns to annual World Health Summit to discuss equitable access and pandemic preparedness

Access to Medicine Foundation CEO Jayasree K. Iyer has been invited to participate in the 2023 World Health Summit (WHS). She will join other experts from the global health community in a keynote panel session, titled ‘Learning from COVID-19 for Future Pandemic Preparedness and Response: How to Ensure Equitable Access to Tests, Treatments & Vaccines’.

Amid the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the inequality in access to medicine became alarmingly clear. Specifically in access to tests, treatments, and vaccines across the globe. Against this backdrop, Jayasree will weigh in on how lessons learnt from this recent global health crisis can be used to be better prepared going forward. Using her expertise, and insights from the Foundation’s work on equitable access to medicine, she will shed light on priority areas and approaches that can address the threat posed by future potential pandemics.  

Information on the keynote session

The panel discussion will be hosted by the Federal Ministry of Health Germany (BMG). Jayasree joins other senior-level expert speakers from the global health community, including:

• Session Chair: Mamadi Yilla, Acting Deputy Coordinator for Health Diplomacy in the Bureau of Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD) 

• Thomas Cueni, Director-General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), Switzerland

• Professor Christian Drosten Charité, Director in the Institute of Virology at the Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany

• Professor Karl Lauterbach, Federal Minister in BMG

• Joy Phumaphi, Co-Chair of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB)

About the World Health Summit

The World Health Summit (WHS) is an international conference that has developed into one of the world's leading global health conferences. The 2023 WHS will take place from 15-17 October, bringing together stakeholders from politics, science, the private sector, and civil society from around the world in Berlin, Germany and online. Held under the theme "A Defining Year for Global Health Action", WHS 2023 will set the agenda for a healthier future by inspiring innovative solutions for better health and well-being for all.

For additional details about the 2023 World Health Summit, please click here.