Statement from the Unitaid Executive Board.

The Board of Unitaid has been informed that Dr Denis Broun has resigned from his position of Executive Director for personal reasons.

Under the tenure of Dr Broun, Unitaid has continued to grow and become a key international health actor and a leader in the field of access to diagnostics and medicines in low-income countries. Dr Broun helped raise the visibility of Unitaid throughout the world. New countries are now considering to become members of Unitaid and to provide additional resources to the organization. Under his oversight and through a highly performing Secretariat, a new strategy has been prepared and new partnerships have been concluded to strengthen the organization.

The expertise of Dr Broun in the field of international public health has helped Unitaid to grow as an organization. Unitaid is now associated with key global initiatives participating in the fight against the three diseases; HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, is part of key working groups and committees, and is consulted on all issues of access to drugs and diagnostics. Additionally, collaboration with the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria is now stronger. In addition to its traditional grant-making, Unitaid has now been able to modify the market place by directly supporting the introduction of new products and negotiating with manufacturers favorable conditions for low-income countries.

Dr Broun’s vision for Unitaid has always been guided by a mix of public health and sincere concern for the individuals, by the epidemiology of the diseases and the situation of patients. It has also been guided by a deep understanding of the economics of access to treatment and the realities of the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industry. Dr Broun is highly committed to the public health cause.

A search for the new Executive Director is beginning imminently and we are looking forward to identifying someone to lead Unitaid in its next phase. In the interim period, Executive Director functions will be handed over to Unitaid’s Deputy-Executive Director. The Executive Board of Unitaid wishes Dr Broun all the best in his future professional and personal endeavors.