Strengthening Innovation and Access
A Milestone Agreement
A new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FIND and the World Health Organization (WHO) signals a significant step towards accelerating innovation and ensuring equitable access to quality diagnostics worldwide.
Building on Past Progress
One year following the historic resolution aimed at bolstering diagnostics, this agreement, with FIND as co-lead of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator diagnostics pillar, reinforces the partnership between WHO and FIND. The primary goal is to expedite both innovation and access to diagnostics, aiding countries in implementing the World Health Assembly (WHA) Resolution on diagnostics.
Addressing Key Areas
Priority Initiatives
The new agreement designates FIND as the principal strategic partner for diagnostics. Together with WHO and other stakeholders, FIND will focus on various priority areas, including:
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis
- Noncommunicable diseases like hypertension, heart disease, cervical cancer, and diabetes
Strengthened Collaboration
Sharing Knowledge and Scaling Activities
Signed on 1 June 2024, this MoU ceremony, attended by notable figures such as Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Dr. Yukiko Nakatani (Assistant Director-General), and Dr. Ayoade Alakija (Board Chair of FIND), signifies the commitment of both organizations to build new avenues for sharing knowledge. Moreover, they aim to scale up critical activities to accelerate access to life-saving diagnostics.
The partnership between FIND and WHO, solidified by the new MoU, is poised to drive impactful advancements in global diagnostics. By fostering innovation and ensuring equitable access, they aim to enhance healthcare outcomes worldwide.
