We commit to the shared aim of equitable global access to innovative tools for COVID-19 for all.
This is the first commitment enshrined in the new Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator launched in April to drive a collaborative global response to delivering diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines to the pandemic at scale – and with nobody left behind.
Through ACT global health actors, along with private sector partners, governments, academia and business are coming together to achieve a coordinated acceleration in the development and production of these tools for tackling COVID-19. Initial supporters include the World Health Organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the global vaccine alliance: GAVI, and the Wellcome Trust. More will follow, as this is a call to action to all potential partners to lend their expertise to help ensure there is equitable global access to new innovations.
“We understand we cannot do this alone, and that we need to work together in unprecedented and inclusive partnership with all stakeholders – political leaders, public and private sector partners, civil society, academia, and all other stakeholders across society – jointly leveraging our comparative strengths and respective voices to drive towards collective solutions, an accelerated path, and access for all. We are stronger, faster and more effective working together,” the Commitment and Call to Action states.
On 4 May the European Commission will lead the next steps in supporting ACT by convening a global pledging summit to raise an initial €7.5 billion to fund the accelerator.
____________________________________
We are tracking information on online challenges, funding calls, and initiatives dedicated to tackling COVID-19. Sign up for our regular newsletters in the box below for all the latest on these and please share relevant details to colleagues and friends to help accelerate solutions.
