Page 64 - SAMRC Strategic Plan

segments of the global population, particularly in and new pandemics due to the spread, reemergence prevent inequities in access during a Public Health Fifth: Regulatory Agencies to collaborate and build
less developed countries, either lack access to these and/or emergence of pathogens, with developing Emergency of International Concern. capacities in existing and emerging technologies,
essential health tools or have limited access. countries being more vulnerable geographically, aiming for regulatory cooperation, convergence
macroeconomically and in terms of access to Third: Funders, regional and multilateral and harmonisation, without creating barriers
That the COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessary products and technologies. organisations, cooperation agencies civil society, and for countries still developing their capacities,
strategic importance of health technologies international community stakeholders to support recognizing the challenge of intellectual property
availability, including vaccines, diagnostics, That global efforts for the prevention of, preparedness the establishment of the Alliance for Regional and technology transfer.
therapeutics and other health products, during for, and response to existing epidemics and Public and Local Production, Innovation, and Access, as
a pandemic emergency and revealed the limited Health Emergencies of International Concern will discussed within the G20 framework, which aims Sixth: All stakeholders to work collaboratively,
production capacity in several regions. The only be viable if we promote: to reduce health inequalities for neglected and sharing data, information and knowledge, pooling
COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that market- • Equitable and geographically diverse distribution socially determined diseases, health emergencies cooperation efforts based on the principles of
driven mechanisms often override public health of production capacity; and pandemics, including disparities in access to solidarity, addressing the interests of the Global
needs, as wealthier countries secured vast quantities • Robust and sustainable investments in research vaccines, medications, diagnostics, and other health South with shared responsibilities; equity, striving to
of vaccines early on, while the global Covax-WHO and development, innovation, and production and technologies, especially for vulnerable populations. overcome unnecessary and avoidable differences,
mechanism lacked sufficient funding to ensure supply processes in Global South countries, and through equitable benefit sharing; excellence,
equitable access, resulting in significant cases and • Fair, transparent, and equitable mechanisms for Fourth: Academic and research institutions in adopting an inclusive approach in preparedness,
deaths and disruption of health systems in Global pricing, licensing, and technology transfer that developing countries and the Global South to law, regulations aiming to achieve the highest quality
South countries. prioritise south/south, co-developed approaches mobilise efforts to increase their contribution in our endeavors for our populations; and respect,
to cooperation between north and South and to research, development, innovation, and acknowledging the sovereignty and differences of
That, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, we have equitable access. the generation of necessary knowledge and each country with the aim to improve the health and
witnessed the high degree of dependency of Global technology, forging strategic alliances, to develop well-being of populations in the Global South.
South countries on imports of active ingredients or appropriate policies to address current socio
pharmaceutical products, as well as various medical Therefore, We urge: economic, socio-epidemiological, environmental, Rio de Janeiro, July 29-30, 2024
supplies and equipment, underscoring the need First: Allies and strategic partners to learn from and health challenges.
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 SAMRC STRATEGIC PLAN 2025/26 – 2029/30 63