DNDi's interventions:
Agenda item 11.6: Road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030
We welcome the reported progress against some NTDs. For others, reaching elimination and eradication goals and achieving UHC require safer, more effective, patient-friendly treatments that can be used in primary healthcare settings. Advancements in R&D – including new treatments for sleeping sickness, mycetoma, and leishmaniasis – have shown that progress is possible. We urge Member States to invest in R&D for health tools for NTDs, including through support for not-for-profit models.
Agenda item 11.7: Acceleration towards the Sustainable Development Goal targets for maternal health and child mortality
Children require specific formulations of drugs, which are often delayed, if developed at all. There are knowledge gaps on the impact of medicines on females, especially those who may become or are pregnant, or are lactating, as they are often excluded from research. This leads to delays in access to treatments. We urge Member States to support and implement resolution language calling for R&D for health tools to address the medical needs of women and children.
Agenda item 13.4 Intergovernmental Negotiating Body to draft and negotiate a WHO convention, agreement or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response
Since the establishment of the INB, DNDi has seen this process as a vital opportunity to operationalize equity based on lessons learned from past health crises by agreeing upon 1) measures that enable a more equitable system to develop and ensure access to critical health tools and 2) rules that embed the principles of access, affordability, and equity into the R&D process itself. There remains an opportunity to do so, but consensus has yet to be reached on some key elements needed, including technology transfer and know-how and benefits sharing. Voluntary and non-voluntary measures to ensure compliance are needed.
One key step that States can and should take is agreeing to attach equitable access and transparency conditions on public R&D funding for public and private entities. Such a provision is concrete and impactful, using a specific lever to operationalize equity at all stages of product development.
Agenda item 15.4: Climate change, pollution and health
Climate change is threatening progress towards control and elimination of infectious diseases by impacting their geographical range, seasonality, and incidence – as we are seeing with dengue. in many countries. However, investments in measures such as disease surveillance and vector control, while important, will not suffice. Availability of and equitable access to tools to test and treat these diseases are vital to building resilient health systems.
Our experience in developing treatments for NTDs, many of which are also climate-sensitive, illustrates that, without concerted action, tools to tackle climate-sensitive infectious diseases will not be available for all – impacting the most vulnerable populations.
We welcome language in the resolution on calling for R&D for new health tools to prevent, test, and treat climate-sensitive infectious diseases and urge Member States to support its implementation in the proposed Global Plan of Action on climate change and health and WHO’s 14th General Programme of Work.
Agenda item 15.5: Economic and health for all
DNDi was established to address chronic challenges in advancing R&D that meets needs of neglected populations. Many shortcomings of the R&D system identified by the Council are acute examples of decades of persistent failure to develop and ensure equitable access to health tools that we, countries, and communities have faced and worked to overcome. But political and commercial choices made during COVID-19 further entrenched the status quo. As the Council stated, the resulting inequities were ‘not just a moral failure’, but also a ‘health and economic catastrophe’.
We agree with recommendations calling for re-orientation of health innovation governance for the common good. We support the Council’s recommendation that governments should use their leverage to negotiate clear terms and conditions to ensure development of and equitable access to health technologies. Public funders should secure a public return on their investments, including via the negotiation of the Pandemic Agreement.
Agenda item 29: Matters for information: progress reports
We urge Member States to support the development, introduction, and scale-up of appropriate treatment options, including paediatric formulations, to improve health outcomes for people with advanced HIV disease. Weakened immune function makes people with advanced HIV disease highly susceptible to cryptococcal meningitis, a fungal infection. While treatments exist, either access is limited, or existing treatments are difficult to administer. Additionally, barely half of children with HIV have access to antiretroviral treatment.
Despite a decline in hepatitis C incidence and mortality, only 36% of people living with the disease have been diagnosed, and only 20% have received curative treatment. While antivirals are available, barriers remain in accessing affordable treatments. We urge Member States to take urgent actions to remove barriers to hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment, including patent barriers, and to include new, affordable direct-acting antivirals in national essential medicines lists.
