Page 63 - SAMRC Strategic Plan

segments of the global population, particularly in and new pandemics due to the spread, reemergence
less developed countries, either lack access to these and/or emergence of pathogens, with developing
essential health tools or have limited access. countries being more vulnerable geographically,
macroeconomically and in terms of access to
That the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessary products and technologies.
strategic importance of health technologies
availability, including vaccines, diagnostics, That global efforts for the prevention of, preparedness
therapeutics and other health products, during for, and response to existing epidemics and Public
a pandemic emergency and revealed the limited Health Emergencies of International Concern will
production capacity in several regions. The only be viable if we promote:
COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that market- • Equitable and geographically diverse distribution
driven mechanisms often override public health of production capacity;
needs, as wealthier countries secured vast quantities • Robust and sustainable investments in research
of vaccines early on, while the global Covax-WHO and development, innovation, and production and
mechanism lacked sufficient funding to ensure supply processes in Global South countries, and
equitable access, resulting in significant cases and • Fair, transparent, and equitable mechanisms for
deaths and disruption of health systems in Global pricing, licensing, and technology transfer that
South countries. prioritise south/south, co-developed approaches
to cooperation between north and South and
That, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, we have equitable access.
witnessed the high degree of dependency of Global
South countries on imports of active ingredients or
pharmaceutical products, as well as various medical Therefore, We urge:
supplies and equipment, underscoring the need First: Allies and strategic partners to learn from
to learn lessons to avoid repeating these issues in the COVID-19 experience, to work together to
Public Health Emergencies of International Concern. overcome disparities in access between and within
Global North and Global South countries, and to
That a key lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic is join forces, collaborate, engage in dialogue, and
that we will not achieve equity in access to vaccines, prioritise common issues and challenges, with
treatments, diagnostics, and other strategic health the aim of enhancing international cooperation
tools and supplies, nor meet the needs of our in science and technology, accelerating local and
populations, if we rely solely on the research and regional research and development, technology
development, and production capabilities of Global transfer, and innovation processes for the production
North countries. of vaccines, treatments, diagnostics, and other
health technologies to counter existing epidemic
That continued investment in building and and pandemic threats in less developed countries.
strengthening the science, technology, and
innovation systems, and the regional and local Second: Funders, regional and multilateral
end-to-end production capacity of Global South organizations, cooperation agencies, public, private
countries, is crucial for greater autonomy and stability and not for-profit research organisations, civil society
in developing health technologies, promoting and other international community stakeholders to
the generation and absorption of knowledge and prioritise the development of cooperation projects
technologies, and ensuring equitable access. and equitable access policies and funding conditions
that focus on end-to-end research and development,
That the advancing climate crisis and natural transparency, knowledge-sharing, and technology
disasters alters patterns of infectious diseases transfer, and using and increasing production
including zoonotic, neglected, and vector-borne capacity for vaccines, treatments, diagnostics, and
diseases, and increases the likelihood of epidemics other strategic supplies in Global South countries to

62 SAMRC STRATEGIC PLAN 2025/26 – 2029/30