Geneva – On the occasion of the 37th meeting of the Unitaid Executive Board on December 9th-10th 2020, members voted unanimously to welcome Japan to join them.

As a key country of innovation, promoter of universal access to quality health coverage and a major player in the fight against infectious diseases, Japan becomes a member of the Executive Board, alongside delegations from African Countries, Brazil, Chile, Communities Living with the Diseases, Foundations, France, NGOs, Norway, Republic of Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and WHO.

Ms. Marisol Touraine, chair of the Executive Board of Unitaid said : “This decision comes as a result of the strong partnership developed between Unitaid and Japan. I am pleased to see Japan join our Executive Board and hope this collaboration will be fruitful in the long run.”

Mr. Koji Yonetani, Deputy Director-General, International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said : “We are  honoured to join Unitaid. Japan, as the co-founder of the ACT-Accelerator, will advance multilateral cooperation with Unitaid through promoting the development and manufacturing of therapeutics as well as the voluntary licensing of patents.”

This decision comes as a result of the strong partnership developed between Unitaid and Japan, which is based on a long-term shared vision to achieving global health goals.

• Read in Japanese

I am pleased to see #Japan join our Executive Board and hope this collaboration will be fruitful in the long run. This decision comes as a result of the strong partnership developed between @UNITAID and #Japan https://t.co/2ySXohBUXT

— Marisol Touraine (@MarisolTouraine) December 14, 2020

Bienvenue au Japon ! A warm welcome from France on #UHCDay2020. Japan is a strong leader in Global Health, we share a common engagement in #UHC. We look forward to this new partnership. @Mofa_Japan https://t.co/gDvQRh612X

— Stéphanie Seydoux (@S_Seydoux) December 14, 2020

Media contact:  

Hervé Verhoosel | +44 7729 618634 | verhooselh@unitaid.who.int