On Wednesday 21 May, on the margins of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, the European Commission, representing the European Union, signed an agreement to join the ‘Global Coalition on neglected diseases’.
This coalition aims to strengthen local and regional production and promote more equitable access to safe, affordable, high-quality healthcare products and technologies that are effective against neglected diseases. These products include vaccines, treatments, diagnostic tools and other health technologies.
The coalition is a flagship initiative of the Brazilian G20 Presidency. It will include participating G20 members and, in future, non-G20 countries. International organisations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) will be invited to take part. The coalition will operate in accordance with international and national law, including intellectual property, and will support the voluntary transfer of technology on mutually agreed terms. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)