How do we meet tomorrow’s health challenges with fit-for-purpose tools accessible to all?

On the occasion of DNDi’s 20^th anniversary, this event will explore opportunities to strengthen universal health coverage (UHC) through inclusive innovation, notably for the most vulnerable communities, against the background of a challenging and ever-changing world of infectious and noncommunicable diseases, pandemics, and climate change.

Inclusive innovation will support the goal of UHC by providing access to context-specific, accessible, and affordable health tools for all who need them. It is a key condition for achieving UHC. Yet, despite some progress in recent decades, too many patients still do not have access to adequate treatment, diagnostics, or vaccines, across many diseases. The true test of UHC is to what extent it reaches and addresses the needs of vulnerable populations, for example, those affected by neglected tropical diseases. For many of these diseases, the treatments are still ineffective or unsafe, unavailable, or unaffordable, and in some cases have never been developed at all. 

The 90-minute event (followed by a reception) will entail three sessions:

It will start with a “fireside chat” on driving inclusive innovation with two global leaders in public health and medical innovation who will explore how innovation should be directed to strengthen universal health coverage. The conversation will highlight that inclusive innovation demands people-centred design, pooled investments for the public interest in innovative partnership models, and – of course – open science.

This will be followed by a panel discussion, entitled “Best science for the most neglected in a world of climate change, pandemics, and inequities”. We will take stock of looming challenges but also new opportunities to make the world’s medical innovation ecosystem work for all, and to enhance access to treatment and care, including at the last mile of patient access.

Finally, an interactive session will help build a powerful momentum for the role of innovation in UHC:  Three leaders will present the opportunities presented by key policy fora in 2023 – from the G7 to UNGA – to advance the agenda for universal health coverage and the role of inclusive R&D within it. The audience will be invited to suggest how to make this momentum even more decisive for a healthy future.