Foundation and WEF’s joint event on equitable access: Meeting Report

In collaboration with WEF, the Foundation hosted a roundtable, titled “Promoting health equity through improved access to life-saving medicines and medical countermeasures in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)” on 28 May 2024 in Geneva.

Held under the Chatham House Rule, almost 30 high-level participants joined this interactive discussion, including CEOs, leaders and leading experts involved in developing and/or producing medicines, policymakers from government, non-profit implementing organisations and regulators. Several leading manufacturers based in LMICs also attended and articulated their readiness to join forces to address the problem of access and build health system resilience to withstand future shocks.

Participants shared insights and solutions towards strengthening equitable access and supply of essential medicines and MCMs in LMICs, which have been captured in a meeting report. 

Report insights 

The report includes key outputs from the event, which serve as calls to action for the public sector – including governments, policymakers civil society and NGOs – as well as manufacturers, procurers and regulatory authorities to enhance equitable access.

Alongside this, the report also highlights high-level themes that emerged from the discussion: 

• Regulatory harmonisation 

• Broadening access through innovation and partnerships 

• Capacity building and health systems strengthening 

• Sustainable financing 

• Early access planning in a diverse and equitable way 

You can read the full PDF of the meeting report for more details on the insights and calls to action set forth at the meeting.