Interim Medical Countermeasures Network <br>(i-MCM-Net)

Interim Medical Countermeasures Network
(i-MCM-Net)

To enhance collaboration for timely and equitable access to medical countermeasures in public health emergencies

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed global vulnerabilities and highlighted the need for stronger international preparedness for future pandemics. To address these, negotiations are ongoing for a convention, agreement or other international instrument to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

The purpose of the initiative is to establish and manage collaborative networks for fast-track research and development (R&D), scalable manufacturing, and resilient supply chain systems to enable timely and equitable access of medical countermeasures (MCMs), including vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other health products during health emergencies. The principles include generating insights, driving impactful outcomes, navigating complexity, leading with integrity and fostering growth through collaboration.

Our core activities:

  • Enabling fast-tracked R&D through global coordination, fostering an environment conducive to research and discovery. This includes supporting clinical trial platforms and enhancing regulatory and legal frameworks, highlighting WHO’s research and technical support functions.
  • Working towards enhancing the responsiveness of the medical countermeasures ecosystem through the WHO BioHub, enabling safe, efficient, and rapid sharing of biological materials with epidemic or pandemic potential. 
  • Establishing need-based access and allocation mechanism for scarce products to ensure that access to medical countermeasures during health emergencies is equitable and driven by need.
  • Strengthening protection against pandemic influenza through implementation of the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework, including securing pandemic influenza products for use at the time of an influenza pandemic.
  • Strengthening and coordinate emergency supply chains and emergency distribution. This demonstrates WHO’s leadership and technical support functions, ensuring that supplies are available where and when needed.
  • Facilitating the provision of financial support to WHO country offices to aid in the procurement of essential medicines during emergencies. This highlights WHO’s leadership and technical support functions in ensuring timely access to critical health supplies.

Our work

Actionable adopt health behaviour

i-MCM-Net

This mechanism leverages the 'Network of Networks' approach to achieve readily scalable capability across the MCM value chain. It provides timely and equitable access to quality, safe, effective and affordable MCMs in response to public health emergencies by building on existing networks and fostering global collaboration. It is committed to transparency, accountability and inclusivity.

A laboratory technician performs PCR tests for respiratory viruses on samples collected from patients

WHO BioHub System

The WHO BioHub System is a global initiative for the safe, transparent, and voluntary sharing of biological materials with epidemic or pandemic potential. It supports timely access for public health use and aims to strengthen global preparedness by facilitating research and development of countermeasures, while advancing principles of equitable access over time.

20,000 Vaccine Carriers Handed Over To MoHP_2_DSC_2191

Access Allocaiton Mechanism

Building on the i-MCM-Net foundation, the work of the AAM highlights the importance of international coordination in addressing public health emergencies. By working together, countries and organizations can ensure that medical countermeasures reach those most in need, ultimately saving lives and preventing further spread of the disease.

A health worker manages medical and biohazardous waste at the Centre Hospitalier de Polynésie Française (CHPF).

Access to pandemic influenza medical countermeasures

Access to pandemic influenza medical countermeasures: Equitable access to life-saving tools—such as vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and PPE—is essential for an effective pandemic influenza response. Under the PIP Framework’s ‘Access to Countermeasures’ High-Level Implementation Plan III, WHO works with global partners to drive coordinated planning for fair allocation and timely deployment. At the same time, it supports countries in strengthening systems for rapid distribution and use. Regular testing of these approaches ensures they remain fit for purpose, adaptable, and ready when it matters most.

Our work in Health Emergency Preparedness, Response & Resilience (HEPR) System — value chain mapping

Fast-tracked R&D

with a focus on information sharing (WHO BioHub system), research capacity expansion, and regulatory​

  • Coordinated research built on a shared global R&D agenda
  • Enabling environment for research and discovery
  • Standardized platforms for equitable and scalable clinical trials
  • Adapted regulatory and legal frameworks to enable timely trials, product review and approval

Scalable manufacturing platforms

with a focus on capability mapping, technology transfer, access and benefits sharing, IP and regulatory

  • Adaptable manufacturing platforms
  • Distributed manufacturing supported by pre-negotiated agreements
  • Ever-ready capability for rapid mobilization
  • Strengthened regulatory framework to guide set-up and scale-up of manufacturing platforms

End-to-end health emergency supply chain

with a focus on lists, standards, policies, demand, procurement and network to cooperate on supply chains

  • Lists, standards, policies and enablers
  • Coordinated demand aggregation
  • Coordinated supply and procurement of quality assured countermeasures (Access to pandemic influenza medical countermeasures)
  • Equitable and transparent needs-based allocation (AAM)
  • Resilient logistics and distribution

Publications

Defining access to countermeasures: landscape report: executive summary
31 July 2024

Defining access to countermeasures: landscape report: executive summary
This landscape report on the current status of activities related to medical countermeasures (MCMs) for pandemic response underscores the urgent need for...
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i-MCM-Net partners forum