Investment in research and development is insufficient

Access requires that new products be developed in the first place. Insufficient investment in research and development for new therapeutics is urgently needed to ensure there will be a healthy pipeline of candidates that can be rapidly produced when a new

Lower-income countries rely heavily on imported health products

Most of the world’s health products are produced in just a few, mainly high-income countries. This leaves countries vulnerable to price volatility, supply chain disruptions or unavailability of essential tools. This vulnerability became clear during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global lockdowns, increased demand and interruptions to supply meant countries without local manufacturing did not have access, not only to COVID-19 tools, but to routine medical supplies as well.

Medical oxygen supplies are unstable

Inadequate health care infrastructure, a lack of oxygen-related equipment, and prohibitively high costs limit access and create severe shortages of medical oxygen when crises occur. Ensuring sustainable, affordable access to medical oxygen is critical to routine surgeries and medical care, and to pandemics caused by respiratory illnesses like COVID-19.