Key stakeholders convene ahead of the G20 second health working group to strengthen global collaboration in research and accelerate regional manufacturing for diagnostics

  • G20 co-branded event was conducted by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, GoI, FIND, and Unitaid to discuss efforts for the sustainable development and manufacturing of effective, quality, and affordable diagnostic countermeasures
  • The objectives of the meeting inform the Health Working Group of the G20 Presidency, hosted by India
  • The meeting provides recommendations to the G20 and its Member States and international partners on the establishment of an R&D and manufacturing network for diagnostics

GOA, INDIA – 16 April 2023. The Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India, FIND, and Unitaid co-hosted a high-level meeting to strengthen cooperation and enable sustainable development and manufacturing of effective, quality, and affordable diagnostic countermeasures prior to the G20 second health working group meeting, which will take place on 17–19 April 2023 in Goa, India. Stakeholders in attendance included representatives of the Government of India, G20 Member States (Australia, France, United Kingdom, Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, and observers Mauritius, Netherlands, and Oman), international organizations, and over 20 diagnostics manufacturers from around the world.

While inaugurating the event, S Aparna, Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, said: “The centrality of diagnostics extends far beyond testing for a pandemic. Diagnostics are key to preventing and treating diseases optimally and, by extension, achieving universal health coverage (UHC). The Government of India is committed to ensuring quality, affordability, and access to diagnostics. We hope that the deliberations from today will be taken forward at the second Health Working Group meeting tomorrow.”

Regional development of diagnostics products through region-appropriate research and decentralized production of diagnostics can help reduce disparities, enhance health security, including pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities, support UHC, and contribute to regional economic growth.

Sanjay Sarin, Vice President of Access at FIND, said: “The pandemic has bolstered the role of a more decentralized model for manufacturing diagnostics, one that combines global and regional manufacturing alike, in support of equitable and sustainable access to diagnostics worldwide. In line with the priorities of the G20, we believe that decentralized manufacturing supports the broader mission of expanding access to diagnostics and achieving UHC.”

The meeting built on a successful 2-day technical workshop on 13–14 April in Goa, India, organized by FIND and Unitaid and attended by over 20 diagnostics manufacturers from 13 countries. The workshop focused on the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of tests for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the need to accelerate regional production of diagnostics in LMICs. It provided an opportunity for diagnostic manufacturers to deliberate on the enabling factors required for the sustainability of decentralized diagnostic R&D and manufacturing.

As a result of the workshop, manufacturers clearly stated their interest in establishing partnerships to facilitate the transfer of technology, know-how, and capacity building.  Manufacturers also highlighted the need for countries to develop national diagnostic strategies with concrete budget allocations and procurement frameworks prioritizing sourcing of regionally manufactured tests. They stressed the need for governments and development partners to continue strengthening regulatory mechanisms and to make clear commitments to facilitate harmonization and fast-track regulatory processes for regionally manufactured products.

Finally, in line with the India G20 Presidency goals, there was agreement that funding needs to be made available to create and maintain capacity for coordinated global manufacturing, R&D and technology transfer.

Robert Matiru, Director of Programmes of Unitaid, said: ” The problems are clear. It is now critical that we take bold action and prioritize innovations that drive the availability and equitable access to essential health technologies, including diagnostics. At Unitaid, we are committed to adopting a market-based approach to accelerate, expand and sustain regional production, and will work with our partners to explore all solutions towards building more resilient health access globally.

The meeting today provided an opportunity for diagnostics industry partners to put forward their recommendations to G20 Member States so that they can be taken into consideration during the G20 second health working group meeting which has outlined “strengthening cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector with a focus on availability & access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable medical countermeasures — diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics” as a key priority.

Summarizing the discussions, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director-General of the Indian Council of Medical Research said: “The need for diagnostics is immense. As we move forward into the second health working group meeting, it will be important for G20 countries to consider measures for greater investment in diagnostics, collaborative R&D, and manufacturing networks that complement existing efforts and strengthen local capacities, and address policy, infrastructure, and human resource related challenges.”

About the Department of Pharmaceuticals

The Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India focuses on the development of pharmaceutical sector in India and regulates various complex issues related to pricing and availability of medicines at affordable prices, research & development, protection of intellectual property rights and international commitments related to pharmaceutical sector which required integration of work with other Ministries. The Department’s vision is to make India the largest global provider of quality medicines at reasonable price. For more information, please visit https://pharmaceuticals.gov.in/

About FIND

FIND seeks to ensure equitable access to reliable diagnosis around the world. We connect countries and communities, funders, decision-makers, healthcare providers and developers to spur diagnostic innovation and make testing an integral part of sustainable, resilient health systems. We are working to save 1 million lives through accessible, quality diagnosis, and save US$1 billion in healthcare costs to patients and health systems. We are co-convener of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator diagnostics pillar, and a WHO Collaborating Centre for Laboratory Strengthening and Diagnostic Technology Evaluation. For more information, please visit www.finddx.org

About Unitaid

Unitaid is a global health organization engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, affordably, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes developing and funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as advanced HIV disease, cervical cancer, hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid also recently deployed its expertise and capabilities to develop and deliver therapeutics (including oxygen) and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a lead agency of the Access to COVID Tools Accelerator. Unitaid’s new Strategy, 2023-2027 includes developing and investing in interventions to respond to global health emergencies and to transform women’s and children’s health. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization. For more information, please visit www.unitaid.org

Media contacts

For more information and media requests:

 

FIND

Karishma Saran

Senior Manager, Advocacy and Communications

M: +41 79 823 49 18

media@finddx.org

 

Unitaid

Hervé Verhoosel

Head of Communications

M: +41 79 249 35 29

verhooselh@unitaid.who.int

Unitaid and the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund strengthen ties to improve access to critical health tools

Tokyo and Geneva – The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) and Unitaid have signed a cooperation framework that aims to strengthen collaboration between the two agencies to increase cooperation between the Japanese research and development industry and the broader global health response. The partnership will focus on tackling complex challenges such as emerging drug resistance in tuberculosis (TB) and malaria and shifting patterns of vector-borne diseases due to climate change. 

By reinforcing links between the GHIT Fund’s research and development pipeline and Unitaid’s expertise in product introduction and access, the framework will further efforts to connect partners and ideas dealing with topics of health innovation, access, and scale. 

The agreement unites the two agencies at a broad strategic level and creates a channel for continuous collaboration, scanning the innovation pipeline for late-stage products that address the most pressing global health needs. This work will further efforts to ensure vulnerable and underserved populations have access to better health products and support progress towards universal health coverage. 

“GHIT looks forward to strengthening the strategic partnership with Unitaid as both organizations enter the next chapter of respective 5-year strategic plans. We strive for seamless transition of GHIT’s innovation pipelines to Unitaid’s expertise in new product introduction and access, bridging to equitable and sustainable access and delivery at scale. We will accelerate the R&D pipeline to maximize impact,” said Dr. Osamu Kunii, CEO of the GHIT Fund. 

“The recent COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of global collaboration in solving global problems,” said Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid. “Unitaid’s reinforced partnership with the GHIT Fund will leverage ties with Japanese innovators who are addressing some of today’s most pressing health challenges. This will improve equitable access to the benefits of new medicines, diagnostics and health technologies for people everywhere, in pursuit of a healthier, safer world for all.”  

About Unitaid

Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities including advanced HIV disease, cervical cancer, and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, co-leading with Wellcome the Therapeutics Pillar and participating in the Diagnostics Pillar. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.

Media contact:

For more information and media requests:

Maggie Zander

Communications Officer

M: +41 79 593 17 74

zanderm@unitaid.who.int

Executive Board approves Unitaid’s urgent action to confront antimalarial drug resistance in high burden areas

Geneva – Meeting at its 41st session, Unitaid’s Executive Board discussed strategic direction for future investments, and voted to approve a new area for intervention to counteract growing resistance to antimalarial medicines in high burden areas.  

This new area for investment is one of many global health challenges Unitaid plans to tackle and it prepares to begin the first year of implementation of an ambitious new five-year strategy, which will focus on enabling access to critical medicines and tools across low- and middle-income countries.  

In support of these efforts, the Board voiced political support for long-term financial engagement from major donors, recognizing that reliable funding is critical to successfully delivering on its goals.  

The new strategy builds on a strong foundation developed over the past 15 years. Using its investments in HIV self-testing as an example, Unitaid showcased how it has rapidly expanded access to HIV testing across low- and middle-income countries working through strong multi-agency partnerships. Self-tests have not only transformed a key element of the HIV response, they have paved the way for simplified testing and greater autonomy to identify a range of other health conditions including COVID-19, hepatitis C, HPV and others.   

“With the new year on the horizon, Unitaid is moving into an exciting new chapter in our history. I am particularly proud to see the Board’s decision to respond to the scourge of antimalarial drug resistance in high burden countries, specifically, resistance threatening the efficacy of WHO-recommended medicines, as a key threat to our ability to deliver quality case management in the future,” said Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid.  

“On the eve of 2023, the board is enthusiastic about deploying our new strategy. For Unitaid, innovation is access. Also, we are more eager than ever to actively pursue our mission to expand the reach of the best health products for those who need them most. The challenges are and will continue to be numerous and demanding but we are confident Unitaid has the strategy and the skills to be up to it” said Marisol Touraine, Chair of Unitaid’s Executive Board.

Media contact:

For more information and media requests:

Maggie Zander

Communications officer

M: +41 79 593 17 74

zanderm@unitaid.who.int

France reconfirms commitment to Unitaid during the Global Fund’s 7th Replenishment Conference  

Unitaid warmly welcomes France’s commitment of €255 million from 2023 to 2025 to support the rapid introduction of health innovations, announced at a high-level pledging event for the Global Fund held on 21 September. The commitment to Unitaid complements France’s €1.6 billion investment made to the Global Fund during the same event.  

Fully funding the Global Fund is critical to getting the world back on track to defeat HIV, TB and malaria, end health inequity and protect humanity from pandemics. 

“This contribution to Unitaid will allow us to strengthen our response to the three diseases and save nearly US$6 billion over the next two cycles. It is a crucial tool that has already reduced the price of malaria drugs by seventy percent. This new commitment is inseparable from the commitment to the Global Fund,” said French President Emmanuel Macron, reconfirming his country’s dedication to a strong and coordinated global health response to tackle the most pressing health challenges facing the world today. 

This latest funding is part of a total US$2.2 billion investment from France since Unitaid’s creation in 2006. It will support implementation of Unitaid’s newly adopted Strategy for 2023-2027, which focuses on three key areas of work: continuing the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria; improving health for women and children; and building more resilient health systems.  

Unitaid works to unlock access barriers that could otherwise limit the impact of innovative health products and strategies. This lays a strong foundation which the Global Fund builds upon to implement solutions on a massive scale. France’s investment in both organizations recognizes this important complementarity between the two agencies, with its investment in Unitaid serving to amplify the impact achieved through the Global Fund.  

“With this new funding, France has reiterated its steadfast commitment to ensuring high-quality health solutions can benefit people everywhere. Unitaid sincerely hopes that France will serve as an example to other donors supporting the Global Fund, understanding that an investment in both organizations will help supercharge the response as we endeavor to regain ground lost during the pandemic,” said Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid.  

The 7th Replenishment Conference brought in just over US$14 billion in funding – leaving a nearly US$4 billion gap in needed funds. Unitaid applauds the donors who have committed support and urgently calls on others to step up in support of global health.  

Media contact:

For more information and media requests:

Maggie Zander

Communications officer

M: +41 79 593 17 74

zanderm@unitaid.who.int

Unitaid landscape report identifies new technologies and innovative delivery strategies that hold promise for reducing vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and Chagas

Geneva, Switzerland – 4 August 2022. A new report examining the landscape of tools and interventions for preventing mother-to-child transmission, also known as vertical transmission, of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B and Chagas, identifies several actionable opportunities to accelerate progress towards global elimination goals.

The report analyzes current challenges in eliminating this important route of transmission and outlines a number of new, emerging or underutilized products and interventions which could help expand access and overcome the public health and market challenges identified.

In addition, several service delivery innovations have the potential to facilitate more rapid, consistent, and equitable access to existing tools and strategies.

Expanding access to these innovative approaches and products as well as addressing product development gaps is critical to achieving the World Health Organization’s ‘Triple Elimination’ agenda, which seeks to encourage countries to pursue an integrated and coordinated approach to eliminating vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and in countries where it is endemic, Chagas disease.

 

About Unitaid

Unitaid is a global health agency engaged in finding innovative solutions to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases more quickly, cheaply, and effectively, in low- and middle-income countries. Its work includes funding initiatives to address major diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as HIV co-infections and co-morbidities including advanced HIV disease, cervical cancer, and hepatitis C, and cross-cutting areas, such as fever management. Unitaid is now applying its expertise to address challenges in advancing new therapies and diagnostics for the COVID-19 pandemic, serving as a key member of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, co-leading with Wellcome the Therapeutics Pillar and participating in the Diagnostics Pillar. Unitaid is hosted by the World Health Organization.

Media contacts:

Unitaid

Maggie Zander
Communications officer
M: +41 79 593 17 74
zanderm@unitaid.who.int

Unitaid and the Government of Kenya strengthen collaborative partnership to advance global health goals 

Nairobi/Geneva – Global health agency Unitaid and the Government of Kenya are launching a newly reinforced cooperation, with a memorandum of understanding between the two parties signed in Nairobi.

Over its decade and a half history, Unitaid has worked closely with Kenyan partners to enable affordable, equitable, and rapid access to game-changing health innovations for those who need them. These include early infant HIV diagnostics, best-in-class antiretroviral drugs for adults and children with HIV, child-friendly tuberculosis (TB) medicines, cutting-edge screen-and-treat solutions for cervical cancer, indoor sprays to curb malaria, and access to COVID-19 tests and medical oxygen, among many others.

The agreement will further improve alignment between Unitaid investments and Kenyan health priorities, enable early access to innovations, and strengthen capacity of Kenyan health services, systems, research institutions and manufacturers.

“Unitaid’s collaboration with Kenya dates from its very beginnings 15 years ago. Nearly 80% of Unitaid’s US$1.5 billion currently invested supports work on the African continent. Kenya is a close partner in these efforts – both as one of the countries where the greatest number of Unitaid projects are running, and as one of the quickest countries to adopt and scale up critical health innovations,” said Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid. “This partnership will further advance our shared goals to improve health in Kenya and beyond.”

“Advances in health innovations hold game-changing potential when implemented widely and equitably, but ensuring products reach the last mile is far from guaranteed. This is why our partnership with Unitaid is so valuable: together we will design the most impactful solutions so no one is left behind,” “said Sen. Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary for Health of the Republic of Kenya.

Joint efforts will focus on advancing sustainable approaches to reduce the burdens of HIV, TB, malaria, cervical cancer, hepatitis and COVID-19, improve the health of women and children, increase regional and domestic manufacturing of essential health products and strengthen pandemic preparedness and response efforts.

Media contact:

For more information and media requests:

Maggie Zander

Communications officer

M: +41 79 593 17 74

zanderm@unitaid.who.int

Unitaid adopts an ambitious new five-year strategy at the 40th Executive Board meeting

Geneva – Today, at its 40th meeting, Unitaid’s Executive Board adopted a new strategy for 2023-2027. Through the new strategy, the organisation will continue to champion equitable access to health innovation. With the introduction of at least 30 game-changing new health products by 2030, Unitaid will accelerate the global response to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria, and improve the health of women and children.

The 2023-2027 Strategy builds on Unitaid’s past successes and affirms its unique place in global health, leveraging its distinct comparative advantage – as a pathfinder, investor and influencer – and will maximize the impact of its interventions to save time, money and lives.

The organization will continue its drive to accelerate the introduction and adoption of key health products with a goal of creating sustainable, equitable access to life-saving diagnostics and treatments. These goals will be built on inclusive and demand-driven partnerships for innovation so that fit-for-purpose, affordable, innovative health solutions rapidly reach all people in need.

The new strategy also highlights the need to improve engagement with civil society and countries to identify innovative ways to increase access to tests, treatments and preventive tools.

Unitaid’s success is measured through the tangible impact its investments have on people’s lives. The new roadmap for Unitaid places people at the center of its work and priorities, reflecting Unitaid’s commitment to expand the reach of the best health products for those who need them most.

“I am proud that the Executive Board approved a new strategy that builds on Unitaid’s strengths today to rise to the challenges of tomorrow and to accelerate the path towards SDG3. With this strategy, we want to go faster in achieving global goals in closer partnership with communities and countries who need our interventions,” said Marisol Touraine, Chair of the Unitaid Executive Board. “The Board stays fully committed to support efforts to mobilize resources allowing the Secretariat to successfully implement the 2023-2027 strategy.”

Unitaid will be seeking US$1.5 billion for the next five years to step up its investments and deliver the goals outlined in the new strategy.

“I look forward to our new five-year strategy supporting a global effort to end HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and improving the health of women and girls by putting the best healthcare products science can provide in reach of all who need them”, said Unitaid Executive Director Dr Philippe Duneton.

Unitaid’s investments are bringing forward the time it will take to reach global HIV, tuberculosis and malaria targets by more than three years. The supported health products are projected to save between US$5 and US$6 billion dollars between now and 2030.

The Board also elected Ambassador Cecilia Kiku Ishitani from Brazil as the new Executive Board Vice-Chair.


Media contact:

Sarah Mascheroni

Communications officer

Email: mascheronisa@who.int

Mobile: +41 79 728 73 11

Unitaid Strategy 2023-2027