Since the establishment of the INB, DNDi has seen this process as a vital opportunity to operationalize equity based on lessons learned from past health crises by agreeing upon 1) measures that enable a more equitable system to develop and ensure access to critical health tools and 2) rules that embed the principles of access, affordability, and equity into the R&D process itself.

There remains an opportunity to do so, but consensus has yet to be reached on some key elements needed, including technology transfer and know-how and benefits sharing. Voluntary and non-voluntary measures to ensure compliance are needed.

One key step that States can and should take is agreeing to attach equitable access and transparency conditions on public R&D funding for public and private entities. Such a provision is concrete and impactful, using a specific lever to operationalize equity at all stages of product development.