In 2023, WHO/Europe established the Access to Novel Medicines Platform (NMP) – a unique, multistakeholder collaboration mechanism to promote dialogue and knowledge exchange between Member States, non-State actors, other partner organizations and stakeholders to identify concrete actions to improve patient access to effective, novel, high-cost medicines in the WHO European Region.
The NMP is hosting the first in-person consensus-building meeting in Copenhagen on 2–3 July 2024 to discuss overall progress and technical proposals made by the Platform and its four working groups and agree on future development and implementation.
Growing need to improve access to novel medicines
In the past few decades, significant strides have been made in biopharmaceutical research. The prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of many diseases have seen great advancement, largely thanks to investments from both public and private sectors. However, there is growing concern among countries in the Region about the steep prices of promising novel medicines. These high costs, particularly worrisome for smaller countries in the Region, have exacerbated disparities and resulted in limited patient access and, in some instances, led to financial distress. The demand for these specialized drugs is projected to rise, further straining health systems that are already under pressure due to current economic challenges and the socioeconomic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
To attain universal health coverage, immediate collective efforts are necessary to ensure fair access for all patients in need and the sustainability of health-care systems.
The meeting
To date, and in accordance with WHO’s Framework of Engagement with non-State Actors, 50 Member States and 49 non-State actors and other partners have joined the NMP. These stakeholders have provided nominations to participate in four time-limited working groups, which will take place from June 2023 to December 2025 and focus on the themes of transparency, solidarity, sustainability, and novel antimicrobials.
The 2–3 July consensus-building meeting will be an opportunity for all members of the wider NMP, including the working group experts, to meet face to face. This technical meeting will provide a forum for each working group to outline its proposals and to discuss and agree with the broader NMP membership on the next steps for implementation, including resource mobilization.