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WHO and FIND Join Forces to Accelerate Diagnostic Innovation and Access

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News on Health 1 1 ArdorComm Media Group WHO and FIND Join Forces to Accelerate Diagnostic Innovation and Access

FIND and the World Health Organization (WHO) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that lays the foundation for accelerating innovation and achieving equitable access to quality diagnostics for people globally. One year on from the historic resolution to strengthen diagnostics, and with FIND as co-lead of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator diagnostics pillar, this new agreement marks a step change in a strengthened partnership between WHO and FIND to speed up both innovation and access to diagnostics, supporting countries to implement the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution on diagnostics. “We are proud to be signing this MoU with WHO, as quality and accessible diagnostic testing is the backbone of health systems, primary healthcare and health security,” said Dr. Ayoade Alakija, Board Chair of FIND. “At a time when there have been three cases of H5N1 avian flu spillover events from cows to humans in the last month and an outbreak of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the importance of diagnostic testing to identify outbreaks and quash them before they become major epidemics or even pandemics has never been more critical.” This new agreement establishes FIND as the key strategic partner for diagnostics, working with WHO and others to address a number of priority areas including antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases like HIV, malaria and tuberculosis, and noncommunicable diseases like hypertension, heart disease, cervical cancer and diabetes. Signed on 1 June 2024 at a ceremony attended by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Dr. Yukiko Nakatani (Assistant Director-General), and Dr. Ayoade Alakija (Board Chair of FIND), the MoU will also see the two organizations building new avenues to share knowledge and scale up critical activities to accelerate access to life-saving diagnostics. The signing of this MoU formalizes a long-standing partnership between WHO and FIND and marks a major milestone in the journey towards better health and well-being across the world. By leveraging the strengths and expertise of both WHO and FIND, this partnership promises to drive innovation on diagnostic tests and also improve access to the tests to reduce health inequalities, ultimately leading to a healthier future for people everywhere.  

G20 Health Ministers Unite for Resilient and Equitable Access to Affordable Medicines in Developing Nations

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News on Health 29th Aug 2023 ArdorComm Media Group G20 Health Ministers Unite for Resilient and Equitable Access to Affordable Medicines in Developing Nations

During the G20 Health Ministers meeting, a consensus emerged to establish stronger, more inclusive health systems that provide fair access to safe, quality, and affordable vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical countermeasures, particularly in low and middle-income countries and small island developing states. The outcome document, consisting of 25 paragraphs, received unanimous approval from all G20 delegations, except for paragraph 22, which focused on the geopolitical situation in Ukraine. According to the released outcome document after the meeting in Gandhinagar on August 19, there was agreement on creating a research and development network for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. Additionally, plans were made to establish a platform for readily accessible open-source and interoperable digital solutions. Health ministers also expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations within the intergovernmental negotiating body (INB) for a legally binding WHO convention or international instrument related to pandemic prevention and preparedness, with a target of achieving this by May 2024. They recognized the need to fortify health systems against the impacts of climate change and pledged to prioritize the development of climate-resilient health systems. This includes creating sustainable and low-carbon/low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission healthcare systems and supply chains that offer high-quality care and mobilizing resources for resilient, low-carbon health systems. The G20 member countries committed to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) comprehensively through a One Health approach. This entails strengthening governance, coordination, research and development, infection prevention and control, and improving awareness of AMR. Responsible use of antimicrobials across humans, animals, and plant sectors, along with preserving existing therapeutics through antimicrobial stewardship, was also emphasized. Moreover, the G20 recognized the potential of evidence-based traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) in public health delivery, provided that these practices are scientifically validated for safety and effectiveness. They also acknowledged the significance of digital health and the modernization of health data systems in improving healthcare accessibility and equity. The ministers recommended closer coordination among existing digital health initiatives to create a seamless digital health ecosystem, endorsing the WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health to implement the WHO’s Global Digital Health Strategy 2020-2025. This initiative, managed by the WHO, aims to reduce fragmentation, promote interoperable open-source digital solutions, and support countries in implementing high-quality digital health systems with a people-centric focus.