Pillar 1: One billion more people benefiting from universal health coverage

Item 7: Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

Prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), promotion of mental health and well-being, and treatment and care of mental health conditions

STATEMENT

Delivered by Hillary Mutungi

The Medicines Patent Pool thanks the World Health Organization (WHO) for the opportunity to comment on the Director-General’s report and reaffirms its commitment to collaborating with WHO, Member States, and global health partners to address the urgent burden of NCDs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by accelerating access to high-quality, affordable, and essential medicines.

As part of this effort,  MPP is prioritising access to innovative NCD products, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists for the management of type 2 diabetes, obesity and other cardiometabolic conditions, diseases which disproportionately affect patients in LMICs. By leveraging voluntary licensing and technology transfer, MPP aims to replicate its success in expanding access to HIV treatments and in alignment with the WHO’s Global Diabetes Compact and the WHO acceleration plan to stop obesity.  To urgently address need, MPP seeks the collaboration of WHO and Member States to create a favorable environment for licensing.

Item 14: Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health 

GAP-F PARTNERS JOINT STATEMENT

Background:

In June 2024, the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly, adopted a resolution to “Accelerate progress towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.1 and 3.2” in which it requests the Director-General “to accelerate implementation of the actions laid out in resolutions WHA69.20 and

WHA75.8, strengthen and expand collaborative efforts such as those promoted by WHO technical departments and the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations (GAP-f) network for securing better access to medicines for children, including antiretroviral therapy for HIV and report to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly, and subsequently as appropriate, on progress achieved, remaining gaps and specific actions needed to further promote better access to age-appropriate, quality assured, affordable medicines and commodities for pregnant and lactating woman, and for maternal, adolescent, child and newborn health services”.

The WHO-hosted Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations Network has developed a five-year strategy to be launched in May 2025, which will drive acceleration of investigation, development and introduction of better medicines for children.

Delivered by Hillary Mutungi

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), the International AIDS Society (IAS) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) on behalf of the Global Accelerator for Paediatric Formulations network (GAP-f) are committed to improving access to quality-assured and affordable medicines to reduce maternal and child mortality. In alignment with the WHA 77.5 resolution on maternal, child, and adolescent health, particularly paragraphs 1(14) and 3(6), GAP-f supports efforts to expand access to essential, safe, and quality medicines for newborns and children.

We welcome the upcoming launch of the GAP-f five-year strategy to accelerate the investigation, development and introduction of optimal paediatric medicines in adapted formulations. We encourage Member States, industry and donors to support the development of innovative health tools and the rollout of these essential medicines, working in coordination with GAP-f partners. We recognise the urgent need to accelerate the investigation, development and introduction of better medicines for pregnant and breastfeeding women. Healthier pregnancies will improve the health and survival of mothers, newborns, and children.

As GAP-f partners, we continue to collaborate with WHO, Member States and stakeholders to address critical gaps and ensure equitable access to essential medicines, striving to achieve better health outcomes for children worldwide.

Item 14: Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health

MPP STATEMENT*

In alignment with WHA 77.5 resolution on maternal, child, and adolescent health, the Medicines Patent Pool, supports efforts to enable access to essential, safe, and quality medicines for pregnant and lactating women, mothers, newborns, and children.

In light of this, and thanks to the support of Unitaid, MPP, recently signed an agreement with Ferring Pharmaceuticals, to improve access to quality assured heat-stable carbetocin in low- and middle-income countries.

MPP believes that ensuring access to heat-stable products is particularly critical for LMICs, where challenges in maintaining cold chain storage are exacerbated by climate change and limited health system infrastructure.

MPP is willing to keep on working with WHO and asks Member States to identify priority medicines that could benefit from voluntary licensing and technology transfer to accelerate access.

*As submitted, but not delivered during the plenary.

Pillar 2: One billion more people better protected from health emergencies.

Item 15: WHO’s work in health emergencies

STATEMENT

Delivered by Hillary Mutungi

The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) commends WHO’s continued leadership in health emergency response.

We would like to highlight the importance of initiatives that strengthen regional capacity to address emerging threats. Ensuring access to technology and know-how is essential for building resilient health systems capable of withstanding future crises. The mRNA Technology Transfer Programme, with partners across 15 low- and middle-income countries, exemplifies how equitable access to critical health technologies can be enhanced through collaboration. Sustained investment in R&D, technology sharing, and licensing models that ensure timely and affordable access to countermeasures will be crucial.

MPP remains committed to working alongside WHO, Member States, and partners to strengthen our collective capacity to respond to health emergencies.

Thank you!