DNDi supports the resolution on skin diseases. Over 10% of skin diseases are classified as NTDs. Skin NTDs disproportionately impact underserved communities in low- and middle-income countries and cause serious physical, mental, and social harm—yet detection remains limited and many treatments are outdated or toxic.

We welcome the resolution’s focus on R&D and access to missing health tools. However, the commercial R&D system continues to neglect skin NTDs, leaving critical needs unmet. Without government action, this will not change. Governments must drive innovation through collaborative models that prioritize patient needs and build local capacity.

Equally crucial is the role of domestic leadership and regional collaboration. Initiatives like the Memorandum of Understanding signed this week by nine African countries on visceral leishmaniasis elimination demonstrate the power of coordinated, cross-border efforts. National political commitment is vital—through integrating skin NTDs into health plans, ensuring domestic and international resource allocation, and training frontline health workers to improve early detection and care at the community level.