News

The following statement—from Global Health Council, supported by the Global Health Technologies Coalition, American Academy of Pediatrics, DAI Fleming Fund, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Partners in Health, and Management Sciences for Health—was submitted to the 74th World Health Assembly on agenda items 13.1: Global action on patent safety; 13.5: Antimicrobial resistance; and 13.8: Immunization Agenda 2030.Global Health Council in collaboration with the AAP, DAI, GHTC, IDSA, PIH, and MSH are grateful to comment on the IA2030 and AMR agenda items.The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed immunization infrastructure, impacted the global supply chain, increased the incidence of antimicrobial resistance and impacted gains made in immunization campaigns around the world.  Disrupted immunization services and supply chains have left millions at risk and widened inequities and it has never been more important to recover lost ground on immunization progress. Vaccines prevent 4.3 million deaths each year–but they have the potential for an even greater impact, especially in children. Immunization is a pillar of people-centered primary healthcare, and we urge WHO and Member States to strengthen vaccine-related research and innovation with the most vulnerable populations in mind. Achieving vaccine equity will require engaging with communities, including the most marginalized, increasing investments in health workers, and enhancing sustainable financing mechanisms to leave no one behind.We call on WHO and Member States to focus on the full spectrum of innovations that support immunization programs: from storage, manufacturing capacity, new vaccine administration infrastructure, co-administration with other health interventions, to novel service delivery that encourages vaccine confidence. In addition, testing is an essential enabler of vaccine development and crucial for ongoing public health surveillance.We ask Member States to integrate accountability mechanisms for commitments made to IA2030, including an annual mechanism for reporting progress through the EB and wider Assembly.Due to waning private investment in antibiotic development, Member States should invest in new tools, including new quality-assured antimicrobials, novel compounds, diagnostics, and vaccines to fight AMR. Any incentives for R&D should address stewardship, and public investments should be conditioned upon the accessibility of novel technologies to fight AMR. Other proven strategies including infection prevention and control, and surveillance also need similar attention.

The following statement—from Medicines for Malaria Venture and PATH, supported by the Global Health Technologies Coalition, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, and Innovative Vector Control Consortium—was submitted to the 74th World Health Assembly on agenda item 34.1: Progress reports, including the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030.Our organizations, bringing together academia, industry and access partners, are devoted to developing and facilitating access to life-saving malaria prevention tools, diagnostics and medicines. Since the launch of the WHO Strategy, several innovations have helped transform the prevention and treatment of malaria, and saved millions of lives. These innovations include:The massive adoption of seasonal malaria chemoprevention.Improved tools for managing the continuum of care for severe malaria in children in rural settings.The first single-dose treatment and molecular diagnostic test for relapsing malaria, and a test to detect genetic anomalies limiting treatment options.The first wave of second-generation bednets with new insecticide combinations.We concur with WHO that we need to address the fragility of health systems, which leads to stalled progress. Malaria is a disease which is preventable and treatable, with strong primary health care and referral services and with capacity for supply and stockpiling of commodities in rural communities.We also endorse WHO’s statement that the need for investment in better tools is greater than ever. Scaled up investment in innovation also requires efficient processes for prequalification of products and revision of guidelines, along with technical support for early adoption of these new technologies in countries.We have today a robust portfolio of malaria tools in development, including potential vaccines. With sustained support for research and broad roll out of existing innovations in countries, the world will be soon much better equipped to move forward on the path to global malaria elimination.

The following statement—from Global Health Council, supported by the Global Health Technologies Coalition—was delivered at the 74th session of the World Health Assembly on agenda items 17: WHO’s work in health emergencies and strengthening preparedness for health emergencies and 18: Mental health preparedness for and response to the COVID 19 pandemic.More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, over one billion vaccine doses have been delivered globally. Yet access to vaccines and other lifesaving tools has not been equitable. The pandemic has spotlighted health inequities, which allow the virus to continue to spread, mutate, and overwhelm health systems—leaving marginalized populations further behind. These inequities were not borne of COVID-19 and inadequate investment and policy responses risk further widening the gap.We applaud WHO efforts to address inequities through strengthened international cooperation and support negotiations to improve international pandemic preparedness. Collective action is critical to end this pandemic, achieve equitable recovery, and create stronger, resilient systems and WHO must be in the lead. We support calls to maximize dose sharing through COVAX, fully fund the ACT-Accelerator, and commit political leadership to oversee response and recovery. We welcome the Director-General’s update on implementation of resolution WHA73.1—which acknowledges COVID-19 disruptions to essential health services—and urge Member States to increase investment in health systems to ensure continuity of services in pursuit of health for all. We need a holistic approach to health system strengthening. To prepare for future health emergencies, WHO and Member States must urgently improve global coordination, increase sustainable financing for preparedness, and invest in better and more effective surveillance systems and field epidemiology training. National and global responses to future health emergencies, must include:Investment in national leadership positions and action plans to increase global health security to fully reach IHR compliance;Prioritization of regional research and manufacturing capacity;Strengthened medical and pharmaceutical supply chains in advance of health emergencies; andIncorporation of pathogen spillover prevention and zoonotic risk assessment. Member States, WHO, and other stakeholders must promote an all-of-society approach to health system strengthening and pandemic preparedness that includes civil society engagement and addresses inequities at their roots. WHO must be well-resourced to prioritize a comprehensive preparedness agenda that ensures systems and services reach the last mile so that everyone is protected from future health emergencies.