On 14 March in Almaty, Kazakhstan, the governance subgroup of the Standing Committee of the Regional Committee (SCRC) approved the next steps for the establishment of WHO/Europe’s Access to Novel Medicines Platform (NMP).
The creation of the NMP, a unique multistakeholder platform, was initiated following the conclusion of the Oslo Medicines Initiative (OMI). WHO/Europe will host the platform, which will enable governments, partners, non-State actors (NSAs), the private sector, civil society, academics and philanthropic organizations to jointly agree and deliver on solutions to improve patients’ access to novel, high-cost medicines.
WHO/Europe will now share the approved draft terms of reference with Member States, NSAs and partners for consultation. This document sets out the aims, objectives and operating principles for the platform and its technical working groups.
Background
Under the European Programme of Work 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”, equitable and sustainable access to quality medicines is critical for universal health coverage.
Although major steps in biopharmaceutical research and advances in prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment have been made in recent decades, countries in the WHO European Region have voiced concern over the escalating prices and budgetary impact of novel medicines. These costs have restricted patient access, increased inequities and, in some cases, resulted in financial hardship.
The market for novel medicines is anticipated to expand significantly in the coming decade. This will offer new opportunities for patients, but will also challenge health systems that are already under significant financial and fiscal constraints because of the current geopolitical and socioeconomic context. Urgent collective action is required to ensure equitable access for all patients in need, and to safeguard the sustainability of health-care systems and the innovation of medicines.
The OMI was a collaboration between WHO/Europe, the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, and the Norwegian Medicines Agency that ran from 2020 to 2022. In September 2022, at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Tel Aviv, Israel, WHO/Europe with the agreement of Member States issued a statement of intent that supported the development of a platform for novel medicines and designated WHO/Europe as a neutral convenor and host of the secretariat.