Title

Equitable roll out of health products: What will it take?

Code

SY13

Session Type

Symposium

Track

Track E: Implementation science, economics, systems and synergies with other health and development sectors

Format

Hybrid

CME accreditation

Yes

ROOM/CHANNEL

Room 511/Channel 7

Date Time

30 July 14:15 - 15:15

Moderators

Jürgen ROCKSTROH, University of Bonn, Germany
Vuyiseka DUBULA MAJOLA, Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management, South Africa

Development and availability of medical devices and therapeutics have been rapidly evolving. The COVID-19 pandemic serves as a reminder that strategies and policies must be in place to ensure equitable access to new products. This session will discuss innovative strategies, collaborative partnerships and transparent processes to identify relevant stakeholders. Active engagement of treatment access advocates, government agencies, policy makers, government and non-governmental funders, regulatory bodies and pharmaceutical companies is key to achieving rapid and effective health product roll out in low- and middle-income countries.

Presentations
Rapporteur Summary

14:15 2 min	Introduction Vuyiseka DUBULA MAJOLA, Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management, South Africa Jürgen ROCKSTROH, University of Bonn, Germany

14:17 8 min	Strategies to enhance equitable health product roll out in low- and middle-income countries Esteban BURRONE, Medicines Patent Pool, France	Slides

14:25 8 min	Collaborative and innovative approaches to novel health product introduction Mitchell WARREN, AVAC, United States	Slides

14:33 8 min	Use of research and partnerships to inform access strategies Karin HATZOLD, Population Services International, South Africa	Slides

14:41 34 min	Q&A Jürgen ROCKSTROH, University of Bonn, Germany Esteban BURRONE, Medicines Patent Pool, France Vuyiseka DUBULA MAJOLA, Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management, South Africa Mitchell WARREN, AVAC, United States Karin HATZOLD, Population Services International, South Africa

AUTHOR

Beryne Odeny

SUMMARY

Discussion focuses on progress towards, and strategies, for equitable accessibility and R&D of HIV technologies and therapeutics. The panel also discussed the role of collaborative and innovative approaches to novel health product introduction into low- and middle-income settings, and the need for multinational, multi-sectoral partnerships to inform access strategies.

HIGHLIGHTS

Esteban Burrone discusses the various dimensions of product introduction and roll out of interventions in-country including FDA approval, licensing, manufacturing, and recommendation in guidelines. Community involvement in demanding access, pursuing early licensing, securing national approval, equitable pricing agreements can fast-track product roll out. Mitchell Warren discusses the need for equity, scale and impact when introducing novel health products. The time it takes for efficacious HIV product roll-out is alarming e.g., 10 years for PrEP. Recommend designing trials in parallel with product development similar to COVID-19; and license products before phase III trials. Karin Hatzold Use of research and extensive partnerships to inform access to diagnostic strategies such as HIV self-testing. The importance of operations research to optimize delivery models was emphasized. Obtaining market intelligence and understanding market signals is necessary for successful introduction and roll out of products.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

There have been significant strides in the science behind HIV product development; however, product introduction and roll-out is lagging unacceptably far behind. Licenses do not prevent infection; thus more policy and governance strategies are needed to fast-track the manufacturing and distribution of products to populations in need. Further engagement of private sectors may galvanize product roll out. Equity in access should specifically be addressed in the context of special and vulnerable populations in need of unique products e.g. young children, pregnant and nursing women. Finally, incorporating diverse manufactures including local manufactures in LMICs is crucial in this response.