The Access to Medicine Foundation joins 78th World Health Assembly

The Access to Medicine Foundation is set to take part in the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland. The Foundation will engage with experts from across sectors, participate in a series of events and meetings, and contribute to discussions on pressing healthcare challenges. Representatives from the foundation will also speak at several high-profile sessions during the event. 

The Foundation’s team will include: 

• Jayasree K. Iyer, Chief Executive Officer 

• Claudia Martínez, Director of Research 

• Pauline L'Hénaff, Head of Industry Engagement  

• Sadhavi Chauhan, Government Engagement and Policy Manager  

• Steffi Van Uytfanghe, Company Engagement Officer 

Over the three-day WHA 2025 programme, the team will discuss topics central to the Access to Medicine Foundation’s work and present findings and insights from some of our programmes and latest publications:  

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Programme 

At the beginning of this year, the Foundation released the methodology for the 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Benchmark, setting out the framework for the upcoming assessment of pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to curb the progression of drug resistance. To reflect developments in the global AMR landscape since the publication of the 2021 Benchmark, the updated methodology introduces a refined set of metrics for evaluating industry performance in addressing this critical health threat. 

The 2026 Benchmark will assess company actions across 113 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), aligning with the geographic scope of the 2024 Access to Medicine Index. For the first time, small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will be included in the assessment alongside large research-based pharmaceutical companies and generic medicine manufacturers.  

Diabetes Care Programme 

Shortly before the start of WHA 2025, a new report is released as part of Foundation’s dedicated Diabetes Care Programme. The report examines how four companies—Biocon Limited, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi—are working to address access challenges in diabetes care for children and young people (CYP) living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in LMICs. 

Against the backdrop of rising global diabetes rates, the report analyses efforts of pharma companies on improving access to essential T1D care in underserved regions, where many CYP remain in urgent need of lifesaving treatment. It will map company-led initiatives focused on CYP, detailing where these programmes are active, what products and services they offer, and how they aim to improve the sustainability and affordability of diabetes care. The report also highlights key opportunities for scaling and strengthening access to ensure broader, longer-term impact. 

2024 Access to Medicine Index  

For over 15 years, the Access to Medicine Index has guided pharmaceutical companies in advancing global healthcare equity by offering data-driven insights and practical steps to expand access to their products in LMICs.  

The 9th Access to Medicine Index provides detailed insights into how 20 of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies perform on ensuring people living in LMICs have access to the medicines, vaccines and diagnostics they need. In this iteration, the Foundation aimed to gain a clearer understanding of whether companies’ products are truly reaching the patients that need them the most. To investigate this, the report includes a more rigorous assessment of companies’ efforts to track and report on patient reach, revealing mixed approaches by companies in doing this. 

Drawing from an in-depth analysis of companies' efforts, the 2024 Index offers valuable insights on how to develop solutions that ensure long-term, scalable, and sustainable access to essential healthcare products.  

Engagements at WHA 

The Foundation’s team will speak at the following sessions: 

• The AMR Equation: Where Innovation Meets Urgency – Cross-Sectoral Collaboration for Preventing and Mitigating AMR 

• Rx for Change: Solutions for Sustainable, Equitable, and Innovative Health Financing for NCDs 

• Building Sustainable Access: Leveraging Innovation to Strengthen Access to Medicines in a New Global Health Era 

• Navigating the Global Health Landscape: Routes to Prioritizing Equitable and Sustainable Access to Care  

About WHA 

The WHA, as the decision-making body of WHO, gathers delegates from all WHO Member States to establish the organisation’s policies, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. It also provides a platform for discussing global health challenges and shaping international health agendas. For more information, click here.