Hosted by France, a founding member and longstanding partner of Unitaid, the organization’s 50th Executive Board meeting concluded in Paris this week at a pivotal moment for global health. As Unitaid marks its 20th anniversary, Board discussions reaffirmed that access to innovation remains essential, but that the way the global health community delivers it must evolve to suit a rapidly changing world.
The global health landscape is undergoing profound transformation. Official development assistance is contracting, countries are facing increasing pressure to finance and deliver health services, and long-standing assumptions about how global health is funded and organized are being tested. At the same time, infectious disease threats continue to emerge. The recent Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda is a reminder that health emergencies do not pause for fiscal constraints or respect national borders.
These pressures are raising important questions about which functions the global health system must continue to perform, even as resources become more constrained. Against this backdrop, Board members discussed the direction of Unitaid’s next strategy and reaffirmed the organization’s unique role in accelerating access to health innovation. They agreed that, even in a more constrained funding environment, helping countries adopt and scale new health tools will remain essential.
"Twenty years ago, Unitaid was created because lifesaving health products reached those with the greatest purchasing power rather than those with the greatest need," said Dr. Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid. "Over the past two decades, we have shown that this can change. We helped bring the price of daily HIV treatment down to around US$40 per person per year, and last year secured the same target price for twice-yearly lenacapavir for HIV prevention. As Unitaid enters its third decade and prepares for new leadership, that is the work ahead: ensuring innovation reaches everyone who needs it through deliberate action, strong partnerships and sustained commitment."
Reflecting the need for innovations that are practical, scalable and responsive to country needs, the Board reviewed two proposed new areas of work that address both urgent health needs and evolving opportunities for impact. The first focuses on improving care for small and vulnerable newborns through better access to integrated care, oxygen and respiratory support. The second seeks to demonstrate people-centered and cost-effective models of care for tuberculosis and hepatitis C in high-transmission settings, helping countries reach populations too often missed by traditional health services.
Board members also reviewed progress across Unitaid’s portfolio. Discussions highlighted recent progress on lenacapavir, which has demonstrated how coordinated access planning can dramatically shorten the time between scientific breakthrough and public health impact; advances in regional manufacturing, which are helping build more resilient and self-reliant health systems; and Unitaid’s response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC and Uganda, demonstrating agility in ensuring timely access to lifesaving health tools during emerging health emergencies.
“Addressing the complexities of global health today demands a multifaceted approach that no single country or institution can achieve alone," said Anne-Claire Amprou, Chair of Unitaid's Executive Board. “In this era of profound transformation, the strength of our collaboration, the power of innovation, and decisive country leadership are essential. The Board remains dedicated to ensuring that Unitaid effectively bridges the gap between scientific advancements and sustainable equitable access."
These discussions will help inform the development of Unitaid’s next strategy.
Kyle Wilkinson
Communications officer
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