Universal health coverage means that all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship. Major steps in biopharmaceutical research and advances in prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment have been made in recent decades, thanks to investment from the public and private sectors. However, countries in the WHO European Region have voiced concern over the escalating prices and budgetary impact of novel medicines, which have restricted patient access, increased inequities and, in some cases, resulted in financial hardship.
 
In 2020, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and in accordance with the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”, WHO/Europe, in collaboration with the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services and the Norwegian Medicines Agency, launched the Oslo Medicines Initiative (OMI), based on the 3 principles of solidarity, transparency and sustainability.

The OMI identified the urgent need to define more clearly the roles and social and ethical responsibilities of the public and private sectors with respect to research on, development of and affordable access to effective, novel, high-cost medicines. It proposed that this should happen through multistakeholder dialogue, as part of a shared responsibility and commitment to realize a social contract.
 
The aims of the OMI were to:

• create a neutral platform for dialogue and collaboration among multistakeholder groups
• reshape political discourse
• create partnerships to build trust and create a movement for change
• identify pragmatic step-by-step solutions
• support the development and implementation of formal strategies/initiatives by WHO and partners, Member States, and non-State actors.

The OMI heard from, consulted and discussed with key stakeholders, including governments and payers, the private sector, and civil society. Striking a balance required coherence between the public and private sectors on aspects such as public funding for research, legislation, regulation, tax incentives, grants, patent protection, participation in clinical trials, pricing, health technology assessment, and health-system payment policies. Under the OMI, a series of technical reports were produced which were further presented and discussed by means of a webinar series.
 
The work of the OMI culminated at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Tel Aviv, Israel, in September 2022. There, key policy considerations informed a WHO statement that was presented and endorsed by Member States. This gave WHO/Europe the mandate to continue to act as a neutral convenor, host and facilitator by creating a formal stakeholder collaboration platform – the WHO/Europe Access to Novel Medicines Platform (NMP) – to improve affordable and equitable access to effective, novel, high-priced medicines in the Region.

“The Oslo Medicines Initiative is about fixing what’s broken. Currently, inequitable access and unaffordable medicines are preventing us from making health coverage universal. Together we can change that.”