Access to essential medicines

of the future

Bernard PécoulDirector, Campaign for Access to Essential

MedicinesMédecins Sans Frontières

A sleeping sickness patient, N'dalatando, Angola, 1997

• Justice

• Access to essential medicines as a

human right

• Essential medicines as public

goods

Justice

The right of access to essential

medicines

Essential medicines as public goods

• Some essential medicines still not on the List

• Overcome intellectual property barriers to access

• Address R&D crisis for medicines for developing

country diseases

• Maintain the production of essential medicines

and secure the market

Future challenges for essential medicines

Some essential medicines still not

included on the List

Overcome intellectual property

barriers to access

The Effects of Generic CompetitionStavudine (d4T) + lamivudine (3TC) + nevirapine (NVP):

Lowest world prices per patient per year

Address R&D crisis for medicines for

developing country diseases

Research for drugs for neglected diseases

1975 to 1999: 1,393 new chemical entities marketed

Tropical diseases: 13

Tuberculosis: 3

Maintain the production of essential

medicines and secure the market