NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

As the world moves toward universal health coverage, the question arises: How can governments ensure equitable access to essential medicines in low- and middle-income countries?

A section of The Lancet Commission on Essential Medicines Policies report, released today, finds that funding for a “basket” of these essential medicines may pose a challenge, but not necessarily an insurmountable one, for the global health community. The section, intended to inform decision-making and co-written by Corrina Moucheraud, assistant professor of health policy and management at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, provides the first comprehensive model estimating the cost to provide essential medicines for all people in these countries.

“As universal coverage is increasingly recognized as central to the right to health, the global community must figure out how to implement it,” Moucheraud said. “Estimates like this one are important to assist policymakers, to mobilize funds and ensure that everyone has access to the medicines they need.”

The commission comprises 21 independent experts from a variety of disciplines to, in part, develop a plan for institutional, regional, national and global policies on essential medicines and other health technologies for the next 20 years.