Dialogue with the private sector on access to medicines and technologies for diabetes care, November 2022

The World Health Assembly resolution WHA74.4, adopted in May 2021, marked a historic milestone in the collective efforts to address the global diabetes epidemic and urged Member States to raise the priority given to the prevention, diagnosis, and control of diabetes, as well as the prevention and management of risk factors such as obesity. A milestone activity progressing WHA74.4 is the establishment of the Global Diabetes Compact (GDC), which provides an opportunity for the global diabetes community to come together to address the barriers to accessing insulin and its associated health technologies, and marked the 100th year anniversary of the discovery of insulin. The establishment of the Global Diabetes Compact and its associated coordination activities have brought added impetus to diabetes efforts within governments around the world.

WHO is convening biannual dialogues with private sector entities, including representatives from international business associations, and the pharmaceutical and health technology industry. The dialogues focus on ensuring commitments and contributions by the private sector entities toward the noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) response on NCDs to achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets 3.4, 3.8, and 3.B.

The first and second editions took place in 2021 and focused on access to insulin and its associated health technologies for diabetes. Many of the manufacturers who participated in the diabetes themed dialogues came forward with commitments and contributions to the requested WHO asks. In the lead-up to World Diabetes Day on 14 November 2022, WHO is hosting the third diabetes themed dialogue with the private sector entities on 2 November 2022 at the WHO HQ campus.

Objectives of the meeting

1. Provide an update on progress in the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases with a special focus on the WHA diabetes resolution WHA74.4 and initiatives to improve access to diabetes medicines and health technologies.
2. Strengthen collaboration between stakeholders including non-State actors as appropriate and in accordance with WHO policies, particularly towards the contributions and commitments by the relevant private sector entities to improve access to insulin and health technologies for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diabetes.
3. Recap on the previous dialogues and present the set of WHO Secretariat asks for the pharmaceutical and health technology industries.
4. Provide feedback on the proposed approach to register the contribution of the pharmaceutical and associated technology products industry.
5. Private sector entities announcements on commitments to the WHO asks.

The dialogue will encourage commitments and contributions from private sector entities including the pharmaceutical and health technologies industry, to support WHO’s activities to strengthen and improve access to medicines and technologies for diabetes, including manufacturer announcements for 2022.