31 August 2023
Geneva – The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), a UN-backed international public health organisation dedicated to increasing access to affordable medicines in low- and middle-income countries, is proud to announce its membership as a signatory of the Ethical Principles in Health Care (EPiHC), joining a community of more than 288 signatories who together have a network of nearly 6,000 healthcare facilities in 90 countries.
EPiHC is an initiative launched by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank to develop a broadly applicable set of principles to promote ethical conduct and support daily decision making with the goal of advancing global access to high-quality, affordable healthcare.
By becoming a signatory, MPP reaffirms formally its commitment to follow these ten fundamental principles that demonstrate its ethics and integrity, and strengthening the bonds of trust between MPP and its stakeholders.
Charles Gore, MPP Executive Director said: “The EPiHC principles are already strongly embedded in all areas of MPP work. In becoming an EPiHC signatory, we are proud to join a global cohort committed to operating in ways that promote ethical conduct, in order to make a stronger contribution to the lives of people in need in low- and middle-income countries.”
Press and Media
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, MPP partners with civil society, governments, international organisations, industry, patient groups, and other stakeholders to prioritise and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations.
To date, MPP has signed agreements with 22 patent holders for 13 HIV antiretrovirals, one HIV technology platform, three hepatitis C direct-acting antivirals, a tuberculosis treatment, a cancer treatment, four long-acting technologies, a post-partum haemorrhage medicine, three oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 and 16 COVID-19 technologies.
MPP was founded by Unitaid, which continues to be MPP’s main funder. MPP’s work on access to essential medicines is also funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Government of Canada, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Government of Flanders. MPP’s activities in COVID-19 are undertaken with the financial support of the Japanese Government, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and SDC.